PBIZE  ESSAY, 


I 


C  j  I  -<r. 


PRIZE  ESSAY. 


^ZJEBULON;, 


THE    MORAL    CLAIMS    OF    SEAMEN 
STATED  AND  ENFORCED. 


BY  REV.  JOHN  HARRIS, 
\\ 

Of  Epsom,  England. 

AUTHOR  OP  "MAMMON,"  THE   "GREAT  TEACHER,"  &c. 


"  Zebulon  shall  dwell  <u  the  haven  of  the  tea,  and  ho  cball  be  (a,  a  haven 
ul  ships."  —  Gen.  ilix.  13. 


K1KST   AMERICAN, 

REVISED    1  ROM    THE    THIRH    LOM1O.N    EDITION. 


BOSTON: 

GOULD,     KENDALL     &     LINCOLN, 
59  Washington  Street. 

1837. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1837,  by 

GOULD,   KENDALL   &   LINCOLN, 
in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the   District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


Fran  of  James  Loring. 


CONTENTS. 


PART     I. 
THE  PRESENT  CONDITION  OF  OUR  SEAMEN  .     .         19 

PART      II. 

REASONS  WHY  THE  PUBLIC  IN  GENERAL,  AND 
ALL  CHRISTIANS  IN  PARTICULAR,  SHOULD 
PROMOTE  THE  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS  IM- 
PROVEMENT OF  OUR  SEAMEN 37 

PART     III. 
THE      MEANS     BY    WHICH     THE    CONDITION    OF 

OUR    SEAMEN    MIGHT    BE    IMPROVED 83 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


IN  the  early  part  of  J836,  an  advertisement  appeared 
in  some  of  the  religious  periodicals,  and  the  several 
Essays  written  in  consequence  of  its  appearance  were 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Murch,  Presi- 
dent of  Stepney  College,  and  the  Rev.  John  Clayton, 
jun.,  A.  M.,  who  presented  the  following  report : — 

"  Desirous  of  awakening  the  whole  Christian  com- 
munity to  the  claims  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Sai- 
lors' Society,  several  gentlemen  of  the  Committee  have 
originated  a  subscription  to  offer  a  premium  of  fifty 
pounds  for  the  best  Essay  on  the  moral  claims  of  Brit- 
ish Seamen.  The  proposed  title  is,  '  An  Essay ;  the 
Moral  Claims  of  Sailors  Stated  and  Enforced,  embody- 
ing the  present  condition  of  the  seafaring  population, 
and  the  duty  of  the  public  in  general,  and  all  Chris- 
tians in  particular,  to  promote  their  moral  and  religious 
improvement,  and  the  best  means  by  which  this  may 
be  accomplished.'  In  consequence  of  this  notice,  seve- 
1* 


VI  ADVERTISEMENT. 

ral  Essays  have  been  written,  and  sent  to  the  Commit- 
tee, at  wliose  request  we  have  carefully  perused  them 
for  the  purpose  of  adjudication.  It  is  proper  to  remark, 
that  the  names  of  the  authors  are  unknown  to  us. 
Whilst,  then,  we  have  great  pleasure  in  recording,  that 
some  of  the  other  Essays  are  written  with  considerable 
ability,  and  are  well  adapted  to  answer  the  proposed 
object,  we  have  no  hesitation  in  arriving  at  the  deci- 
sion, that  this  is  entitled  to  the  prize.  We  earnestly 
pray  that  this  appeal  to  the  wisdom,  humanity,  and 
piety  of  the  public  may  meet  with  an  honest  response  ; 
and  that,  in  the  hands  of  God,  it  may  be  very  instru- 
mental to  the  bringing  in  of  that  glorious  period,  when 
'  the  abundance  of  the  sea  shall  be  turned  toward  the 
Church,  and  the  wealth  of  the  nations  shall  come  to 
her.'  " 

W.  H.  MURCH,  Stepney  College. 
JOHN  CLAYTON,  JCN.,  Hackney. 

Jfov.  26,  1836. 


PREFACE 

TO      THE     AMERICAN      EDITION. 


THE  following  work  is  substantially  a  reprint  of 
BRITANNIA,  a  Prize  Essay  by  Mr.  Harrison  the  moral 
claims  of  seamen.  It  seemed  desirable  that  a  produc- 
tion by  such  an  author,  on  such  a  subject,  should  come 
as  extensively  as  possible  before  the  American  public. 
In  examining  the  Essay  with  reference  to  the  press,  it 
was  found  to  be  so  completely  English,  as  to  render  its 
naturalization  indispensable  to  secure  its  highest  utility 
among  us.  The  very  things,  which  in  part  gave  it 
weight  and  influence  in  England,  unfitted  it  for  our 
own  meridian.  We  cannot  be  expected  to  be  moved 
by  the  glory  of  her  naval  warfare,  or  to  feel  the  power 
of  appeals  based  on  the  extent  of  her  commerce.  As 
far  as  the  argument  is  grounded  on  things  which  are  as 
true  of  the  American  as  the  English  sailor,  it  would  be 
impertinent  to  make  any  alterations.  It  has  been  our 
object  therefore,  to  make  the  Essay,  an  appeal  by  iMr. 


Vlll  PREFACE. 

Harris  to  the  Christians  of  America  on  the  moral  claims 
of  our  own  seamen.  We  judged  it  indispensable  to 
this  end,  that  appeals  to  sympathies  peculiarly  English, 
should  be  erased,  and  that  the  statistics  of  our  own  com- 
merce and  benevolent  operations  in 'behalf  of  seamen 
should  be  substituted  for  those  of  England.  The  origi- 
nal title  of  Britannia  has  been  rejected,  and  from 
the  various  substitutes  which  have  occurred  to  us,  we 
have  selected  (not  without  distrust,)  that  of  Zebulon, 
the  name  of  the  tribe  in  Israel  who  dwelt  by  "  the 
haven  of  ships." 

We  are  not  aware  of  having  taken  greater  liberties 
with  the  work,  than  was  necessary  to  our  object,  or 
than  is  common  in  England  with  the  productions  of 
American  authors.  We  hope  Mr.  Harris  will  not  con- 
sider his  Essay  barnacled  by  its  passage  across  the  At- 
lantic. If  it  shall  appear  to  him  to  have  suffered  at  our 
hands,  he  will  impute  it  to  an  honest,  though  misguid- 
ed desire  that  he  <!  might  have  some  fruit  among  us 
also,  even  as  among  other  Gentiles." 

AMERICAN  EDITORS. 


INTRODUCTION 


TO     THE     AMERICAN     EDITION. 


MR.  HARRIS,  in  his  Essay,  appears  to  attach 
less  importance  to  the  Sailors'  Home,  as  a 
means  for  the  intellectual  and  moral  elevation 
of  seamen,  than  has  been  usual  among  us.  Per- 
haps the  experiment  has  not  been  tried  as  ex- 
tensively or  under  as  favorable  circumstances  in 
England,  as  in  the  United  States.  As  far  as  it 
has  been  made,  the  benefits  derived  from  it  jus- 
tify us  in  placing  the  Home  second  only  to  the 
Chaplain  and  the  Bethel.  There  are  many  ad- 
vantages in  this  institution  which  a  riper  expe- 
rience will  render  more  apparent,  but  the  fol- 
lowing are  perfectly  obvious  to  the  friends  of 
seamen  among  us. 

1.  The  Home  withdraws  the  sailor  from  the 
influences  which  have  degraded  him.  The  sai- 
lor is  a  homeless  man.  He  usually  commences 


X  INTRODUCTION. 

his  career  in  early  life,  a  wayward  boy,  sent  to 
sea  as  the  last  school  of  reformation  left  his  pa- 
rents, or  seeking  it  as  the  element  most  con- 
genial to  his  own  buoyant  and  daring  spirit. 
When  he  has  broken  away  from  the  family  cir- 
cle, he  seldom  revisits  it,  but  floats,  like  a  weed 
torn  from  its  native  rock,  where  wind  and  wave 
may  bear  him.  It  is  but  seldom  that  he  gathers 
another  circle  and  knows  the  endearments  of 
husband  and  wife,  of  parents  and  children.  He 
does  violence  to  his  nature.  He  is  a  lonely, 
solitary  man,  with  one  half  of  the  sympathies 
of  humanity  withered  within  him.  In  conse- 
quence, he  has  no  object  for  which  to  live  out 
of  himself.  He  has  no  motive  to  be  temperate 
and  saving.  He  is  left  to  the  dominion  of  his 
passions ;  and  if  their  indulgence  be  denied 
him  while  at  sea,  on  his  return  they  do  but 
rage  the  more,  like  his  own  ocean,  for  the  pre- 
vious calm.  When  he  reaches  port,  how  is  he 
met?  Not  by  the  respect  and  kindness  of  the 
community  he  benefits,  not  by  the  influences  of 
the  gospel  he  has  borne  to  the  heathen,  but  by 
the  tempter  with  the  cup  of  death.  It  is  the 
interest  of  the  landlord,  that  the  sailor  should 
be  licentious  and  intemperate,  and  while  he 
furnishes  the  means,  he  sees  to  it,  that  a  day  or 


INTRODUCTION.  xi 

a  week  is  sufficient  to  squander  the  hard  earn- 
ings of  months  and  years.  What  results  can 
be  expected  under  such  circumstances,  from 
preaching  the  gospel  to  seamen.  You  mingle 
the  truths  of  the  Bible  with  the  coarse  revels  of 
the  bar  and  the  brothel,  and  which  will  have 
the  mastery,  the  voice  of  God  or  of  the  pas- 
sions ?  You  can  expect  no  good  result.  You 
might  as  well  hope  that  the  scanty  and  inter- 
rupted showers  of  heaven  would  freshen  the 
brine  of  the  sea,  or  stand  upon  the  rocks,  which 
restrain  the  ocean  and  scattering  the  seed  broad- 
cast upon  its  waters,  look  to  see  a  harvest  spring- 
ing up  from  its  sands  and  waves.  The  Home 
separates  him  from  such  influences,  and  brings 
him  sobered  and  in  his  right  mind,  in  contact 
with  good  principles  and  men. 

2.  In  the  Home,  the  sailor  is  associated 
with  the  best  men  of  his  own  class. 

Whenever  a  Sailor's  Home  is  opened,  the 
temperate,  the  saving,  the  aspiring,  and  the 
thoughtful  will  frequent  it.  Whoever  else  may 
come,  you  will  find  there  the  men,  who  are  not 
contented  with  the  fore-castle,  but  determined 
to  reach  the  summit  of  the  profession.  You 
cannot  keep  them  away  from  its  schools,  its 
library,  its  reading  room,  or  its  lectures.  The 


Xil  INTRODUCTION. 

circle  may  be  a  limited  one,  but  still  it  is  large 
enough  to  form  a  public  opinion,  which  exerts 
a  powerful  control  over  its  members.     The  first 
principles  of  reform  are   laid  in  an  entire   dis- 
use of  whatever  intoxicates.     The  sailor   finds 
himself  associated  with  men  who  respect  them- 
selves,  and   are   respected,   and   whose    whole 
influence   goes    in   favor  of  strict  temperance. 
Once  a  sober  man,  he  learns  to   accumulate, 
and   the   Savings  Bank  is  ready  to  receive  his 
deposits.     A  large  sphere  opens  upon  him,  and 
with  the  hope  of  rising  above  his  present  condi- 
tion,  he   fits   himself  for   a  better.     From  this 
hour,  he  has  a  stake  in  the  community,  and  the 
community  have  a  pledge  for  his  good  conduct. 
The  Sailor's  Home   too,  furnishes  an  oppor- 
tunity to  the  friends  of  seamen,  to  form   crews 
of  the  sober  and  religious,  and  to  convince  the 
merchant  by  them  of  the  benefit  resulting  from 
efforts  for   the   good  of  seamen.     "  When  you 
will   send  a  crew   from  the   Home  to  New  Or- 
leans, who  will  all  return,  said  a  merchant  on 
one  occasion,  I  will  believe  in  it."    A  crew  had 
been  sent  to  that  port  and  they   returned  to  a 
man,    notwithstanding   that  triple    the    wages, 
they   were    then   receiving,    had    been    offered 
them  if  they  would  desert  the  ship.     They  had 


INTRODUCTION.  Xlll 

learnt  that  lesson  of  fidelity  to  their  engage- 
ments at  the  Home,  for  he  who  does  not  do  his 
duty  as  a  seaman,  is  not  fit  to  be  an  officer. 

3.  At  the  Home,  the  sailor  is  associated 
with  Christians,  who  feel  the  deepest  interest  in 
his  welfare,  under  circumstances  which  pro- 
mise the  happiest  results  to  their  efforts  for  his 
conversion. 

He  has  been  a  lonely  man,  a  stranger  to 
kindness  or  attention.  He  has  lived  in  the 
world,  as  the  rock  and  the  ocean  together,  in 
perpetual  conflict.  He  has  been  the  victim  of 
the  designing,  neglected  by  the  church,  and 
the  prey  of  his  own  wicked  passions.  "  I  feel," 
said  a  sailor,  who  was  friendless  and  homeless, 
and  who  for  nineteen  years  had  wandered  from 
port  to  port  without  a  single  return  to  the  fire- 
side of  his  childhood,  "  I  feel  as  if  I  were  the  last 
spar  left  standing  after  a  storm."  In  the  Home, 
the  hand  of  Christian  sympathy  is  extended  to 
him,  and  kindness  is  the  more  grateful  because 
it  has  been  so  unknown  before.  The  truths 
and  blessings  of  the  gospel  are  urged  on  his  at- 
tention, and  there  is  good  hope  of  the  result. — 
He  has  indeed  been  separated  from  the  influ- 
ences of  the  Sabbath,  and  the  pulpit,  and  prayer, 
but  not  utterly  separated  from  his  God.  While 


XIV  INTRODUCTION. 

the  dwellers  by  the  shore  grow  up  to  manhood 
with  an  indifference  to  sacred  things,  arising 
from  their  commonness  and  familiarity,  it  is 
amidst  the  unbelievers  of  God,  eternity,  and  the 
wonders  of  his  power  in  the  deep,  amidst  the 
calm  and  the  storm,  amidst  deliverances  from 
strange  and  sudden  death,  that  the  elements  of 
his  character  are  combined.  And  never  will 
you  find  the  seaman,  whether  excited  or  sober, 
who  will  treat  religion  or  its  ministers  with  oth- 
er than  respect.  If  he  have  mistaken  super- 
stition for  religion,  he  is  far  from  denying  all 
religion  in  infidelity.  He  is  open  to  the  ap- 
proaches of  truth.  When  convinced  that  God 
speaks  in  the  Bible  and  to  him,  the  very  train- 
ing of  his  calling  prepares  him  to  obey  at  once 
and  heartily.  The  sailor  never  questions  or- 
ders issued  from  the  quarter-deck.  If  he  should, 
life  and  property  would  very  often  be  put  in 
great  danger  from  the  neglect  of  duty,  which 
requires  instant  attention.  The  same  subordi- 
nation to  authority  is  carried  into  religion  and 
the  voice  of  Christ  saying,  "  follow  me,"  meets 
now  as  ready  an  obedience,  as  when  the  fisher- 
men of  Galilee  left  all  and  followed  him.  At 
the  Home,  there  is  every  reason  to  hope,  that 
his  religious  susceptibilities  will  be  developed 


INTRODUCTION.  XV 

aright.  He  is  brought  in  contact  with  pious 
seamen.  In  the  circle  for  prayer,  and  confer- 
ence, he  is  addressed  in  his  own  language  by 
men  who  know  his  feelings,  his  wants,  and 
even  prejudices  as  well  as  the  blessings  of  a 
Christian's  hope.  Their  speech  is  rude,  their 
address  is  coarse,  their  illustrations  uncouth, 
but  withal,  there  is  an  honest  and  hearty  con- 
viction of  the  truth,  and  a  fervent  love  of  it  to 
which  the  graces  and  ornaments  of  language 
can  add  but  little.  Some  men  desire  that  one 
should  come  back  again  from  the  grave,  and 
reveal  its  mysteries.  Vain  wish  !  The  nearest 
approach  to  it,  is  perhaps  the  Christian  sailor 
when  setting  forth  the  revelations  of  another 
life.  He  has  been  in  the  wards  of  a  foreign 
Hospital  and  still  lives,  he  has  been  in  the  deep, 
he  has  been  famished  and  athirst,  until  he  glar- 
ed with  cannibal  eyes  on  the  maddened  and  the 
dead  Jabout  him,  he  has  been  on  the  wreck  for 
hopeless  days  and  nights,  he  has  been  within 
the  verge  of  the  gates  of  death,  amid  the  light- 
ning and  the  storm,  and  he  has  come  back 
again  almost  a  resurrection,  to  utter  the  truth 
of  God,  in  the  memory  of  what  he  hath  been 
and  seen  and  felt.  To  such  influences  we  en- 
trust the  sailor  at  the  Home.  Besides,  he  is 


XVI  INTRODUCTION. 

there  brought  under  the  influence  of  a  friend 
and  pastor,  the  minister  of  Christ  in  the  things 
of  an  eternal  life.  Whatever  of  good  the  church 
can  devise  for  him,  whatever  wisdom  can  sug- 
gest, whatever  prayer  may  prompt,  whatever 
love  may  direct,  it  may  and  does  centre  in  the 
Home,  to  compass  his  conversion  by  the  grace 
of  God. 

No  class  of  the  community  can  be  more  in- 
terested personally  in  the  improvement  of  sea- 
men than  our  merchants.  They  entrust  to  their 
care,  property  to  the  amount  of  §260,000,000 
annually.  For  its  safe  and  speedy  transport 
from  market  to  market,  they  have  no  other 
guarantee  from  the  sailor  on  the  wide  ocean, 
beyond  the  reach  of  law,  than  his  own  moral 
character.  Whatever  tends  to  make  him  a 
wiser  and  better  man,  gives  security  to  that 
property.  It  were  a  deed  worthy  of  the  mer- 
chants of  Boston  whose  wealth  has  been  de- 
rived so  largely  from  the  toils  of  the  sailor,  to 
rear  a  Home,  with  all  the  appendages  of  schools, 
libraries,  reading  rooms,  lectures,  &c.  which 
would  make  it  a  model  to  the  sea-ports  of  our 
land.  It  would  be  but  justice  to  the  sailor. 
For  who  hath  made  our  merchants  princes,  and 
our  traffickers  the  honorable  of  the  earth  ?  Who 


INTRODUCTION.  XV11 

hath  gathered  the  harvest  of  the  rivers,  the 
revenue  of  the  sea,  the  treasures  hid  in  the 
sand,  and  the  peculiar  blessings  of  every  clime 
and  poured  them  out  at  our  feet  ?  Who  but  the 
sailor  1  We  have  had  an  existence,  as  a  na- 
tion, but  little  above  fifty  years,  and  our  com- 
merce threads  every  river  and  visits  every  shore 
of  the  earth,  whilst  its  astonishing  increase  at 
the  rate  of  12  per  cent.,  gives  promise,  that  it 
will  soon  rival  that  of  England  herself.  Could 
we  call  up  from  their  graves,  in  the  power  of  an 
anticipated  resurrection,  the  stout  hearts  who 
have  carried  on  this  good  work,  whence  would 
they  come  ?  But  few  indeed  from  the  church- 
yards of  their  native  village.  Few  from  slum- 
bering with  kindred  dust  in  the  hope  of  an  as- 
sociated rising.  They  would  come  from  the 
unmarked  waves  of  every  shore  from  the  cav- 
erns of  every  ocean,  from  the  solitary  rivers  and 
the  ends  of  the  earth,  where  they  have  found  an 
early  and  a  sudden  death.  The  memory  of  the 
dead  demands  for  the  living,  who  are  following 
in  their  steps,  the  common  benefits  of  humanity 
on  earth,  and  the  hopes  of  glory  afterward. 

To  the  Christian,  the  welfare  of  seamen  has 
an  interest  into  which  silver  and  gold  does  not 
enter.  Jesus  Christ  began  the  conversion  of 


INTRODUCTION. 

the  world  with  the  fishers  of  the  lake.  It  was 
the  fulfilment  of  the  promise,  "  the  ships  of 
Tarshish  first."  The  appeal  in  their  behalf 
comes  to  us  from  every  quarter,  from  our  cities 
corrupted  by  their  vices,  from  the  heathen,  who 
stood  between  our  missionaries  and  our  licen- 
tious and  maddened  seamen  ;  from  the  very 
priests  of  idolatry,  whose  morality,  low  as  it  is, 
loathes  the  vices  of  these  men  ;  from  our  breth- 
ren, who  are  constrained  to  turn  aside  from  the 
appropriate  work  of  their  mission,  to  preach  the 
gospel  to  sailors ;  and  from  seamen  themselves 
as  ceaseless  as  the  moan  of  the  ocean.  Shall 
we  not  heed  it?  When  Nelson  met  the  com- 
bined fleets  of  France  and  Spain  at  Trafalgar, 
every  arm  was  nerved,  every  heart  beat  more 
proudly  as  the  signal  rose  to  the  masthead  and 
revealed  itself  on  the  breeze,  "  England  ex- 
pects every  man  to  do  his  duty."  In  another 
warfare,  in  a  nobler  cause,  let  our  watch-word 
be,  "  God  expects  every  Christian  to  do  his 
duty,"  and  then  indeed,  the  abundance  of  the 
sea  shall  be  converted  unto  him. 

WILLIAM  M.  ROGERS. 

DANIEL  M.  LORD. 


Z  E  B  U  L  O  N. 


PART    THE    FIRST. 


PART    THE    FIRST. 


THE  PRESENT  CONDITION  OP  OUR  SEAMEN. 

IT  is  impossible  for  a  person  to  institute  an 
inquiry  into  the  character  and  claims  of  our 
seamen,  without  soon  discovering  that  his  in- 
vestigations relate  to  a  class  of  men  perfectly 
unique.  A  person  who  steps  for  the  first  time 
on  the  deck  of  a  ship,  and  commits  himself  to 
the  ocean,  does  not  find  himself  cut  off  more 
completely  from  all  his  familiar  associations, 
and  surrounded  hy  a  world  of  novelty,  than 
such  an  inquirer  finds  himself  impressed  with  a 
sense  of  strange  and  original  interest.  Per- 
haps, the  only  class  with  which  sailors  can  for 
a  moment  be  compared  is  the  army  ;  but  even 
here,  the  points  of  resemblance  are  less  promi- 
nent than  the  points  of  contrast.  For,  while 
the  chief,  and  almost  only  feature,  which  these 
two  classes  have  in  common,  is  that  arising 
from  peril — the  peril  of  war, — the  sailor  has  an 
element  of  his  own  ;  perils  of  his  own,  arising 


20  THE  PRESENT  CONDITION 

from  that  element ;  social  and  religious  priva- 
tions peculiar  to  himself;  and,  (to  say  nothing 
of  an  exclusive  technical  phraseology,)  he  has 
habits  and  characteristics  arising  out  of  these 
peculiarities,  which  he  shares  with  no  other 
class  of  the  community. 

Did  the  limits  of  this  essay  permit,  we  might 
advantageously  prepare  for  looking  at  the  pre- 
sent condition  of  our  seamen  by  reviewing  their 
history  during  the  last  half  century  ;  and  here, 
a  very  little  attention  would  soon  disclose  the 
unwelcome  truth,  that  their  treatment  has  been 
as  peculiar  as  their  character  is  unique. 

The  page  of  a  Smollet,  himself  a  sailor,  and 
drawing  from  the  life,  might  furnish  us  with 
truths  so  startling  and  revolting,  that  the  reader 
of  the  present  day  regards  them  as  exaggera- 
tions. We  might  cite  unquestionable  testimony 
to  prove  that  "  during  the  last  war,  when  so 
many  sailors  were  wanted  both  for  the  navy  and 
merchant  service,  every  art  was  used  to  entrap 
them,  and  every  species  of  demoralization  en- 
couraged to  keep  them  in  a  state  of  depend- 
ence." We  might  advert  to  the  way  in  which, 
for  years,  our  ships  of  war  were  made  recepta- 
cles for  the  polluting  refuse  of  our  jails,  to  the 
necessary  deterioration  of  the  character  of  the 
genuine  sailor.  We  might  fill  page  after  page 
with  quotations  from  "  Voyages,"  "  Tales," 
and  "  Narratives"  of  those  times — a  class  of 
books  which  have  lately  formed  the  most  popu- 
lar reading  of  circulating  libraries — exhibiting 
scenes  of  license  and  depravity,  especially  at 


OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  21 

anchor,  at  which  the  heart  sickens.  We  might 
appeal  to  the  survivors  of  those  times,  "  how 
common  it  was  to  practise  swearing  to  see 
which  could  excel  in  oaths,  and  to  drink  to  in- 
toxication, with  the  idea  that  he  who  could 
swear  best,  and  drink  most,  was  the  best  sai- 
lor." And  we  might  furnish  abundant  evi- 
dence to  show  how  justly  our  ships  deserved 
the  appalling  names  they  received,  of  floating 
hells,  and  hells  afloat. 

Instead,  however,  of  occupying  our  pages 
with  details  of  this  nature,  we  may  advert  to  a 
fact  which  virtually  includes  them  all,  namely, 
that  in  the  opinion  of  the  world,  generally,  the 
idea  of  a  sailor  and  of  true  piety  are  almost  in- 
compatible with  each  other.  Not  long  since, 
and  even  now.  in  many  places,  a  converted  sai- 
lor would  be  regarded  by  multitudes  as  no  less 
a  prodigy  than  a  converted  Jew.  If  piety  ever 
belonged  to  our  seamen  as  a  class,  the  traces  of 
it  had  so  completely  disappeared,  and  so  long 
been  wanting,  that,  until  recently,  the  public 
were  not  only  quite  reconciled  to  its  absence, 
numbers  seemed  to  doubt  whether  religion  could 
be  introduced  among  them,  and  others  even 
doubted  whether  it  ought  to  be  ;  whether  it 
would  not  destroy  their  distinctive  character ; 
whether  irreligion  was  not  an  essential  attri- 
bute of  the  class.  Now,  what  must  have  been 
the  guilty  neglect,  and  the  vicious  treatment, 
which  could  have  led  to  all  this  depravity  of  the 
maritime  population,  and  what  must  have  been 
the  enormity  of  that  wickedness  which  could 
2* 


22  THE  PRESENT  CONDITION 

have  occasioned  and  countenanced  such  an 
idea  ! 

"  It  is  true,  that  for  years  past  their  tem- 
poral condition  has  been  slowly  improving.  Our 
attention  naturally  turns,  in  this  view  of  the 
subject,  first,  to  our  National  Hospitals.  '  These 
have  been  established  at  Boston,  New  York, 
Philadelphia,  Baltimore,  and  a  few  other  cities, 
but  should  a  vessel  put  into  Holmes'  Hole,  Sa- 
lem, New  London,  besides  more  than  fifty  other 
places  on  the  coast,  the  sick  sailor  must  either 
pay  his  own  bill  or  be  carried  to  an  alms-house. 
Besides,  where  our  Government  have  establish- 
ed Marine  Hospitals,  they  have  supported  them 
by  a  tax  of  twenty  cents  a  month,  deducted 
from  the  hard  earned  wages  of  the  sailor,  without 
regard  to  his  circumstances.'  '  The  Trustees  of 
the  Sailor's  Snug  Harbor,  have  erected  a  large 
and  commodious  building  on  Staten  Island, 
New  York,  where  some  fifty  or  sixty  disabled 
seamen  have  found  a  refuge  for  life.  The  an- 
nual income  of  this  Institution  has  already 
reached  the  sum  of  $32,000.  Savings  Banks 
for  seamen  have  already  been  put  into  success- 
ful operation  at  Portland,  Boston,  Warren,  New 
York,  and  Mobile.  Besides  these  provisions 
for  the  temporal  welfare  of  seamen,  they  have 
formed  themselves  into  various  benevolent  so- 
cieties, for  their  own  relief  in  case  of  sickness 
and  shipwreck.'  "* 

But  while  these  laudable  though  inadequate 

*  Sailor's  Magazine,  November  1836. 


OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  23 

steps  were  taken  to  ameliorate  the  temporal  con- 
dition of  our  seamen,  what  efforts  were  made  to 
promote  their  moral  and  religious  welfare?  Our 
answer  to  this  inquiry  must  be  twofold.  In  the 
first  place,  we  have  to  acknowledge  our  guilty 
omissions.  While  we  were  reading  with  trans- 
port, from  time  to  time,  of  their  courage,  their 
humanity  and  patriotism — when  every  battle 
was  a  victory — who  thought  of  aiming  to  add 
piety  to  their  list  of  excellencies  ?  Provided 
the  national  fame  resounded,  the  principal  so- 
licitude was  to  meet  the  great  demand  for  these 
rough  and  warlike  materials,  created  by  martial 
consumption.  While  we  read  with  anguish  of 
the  killed  and  wounded,  in  our  naval  dispatches, 
what  efforts  were  made  to  impart  religious  pre- 
paration to  those  who  were  going  out  to  supply 
their  place,  and  to  follow  them  into  eternity  ? 
As  if  the  nation,  having  destined  a  good  pro- 
portion of  them  to  be  "  food  for  powder,"  felt 
that  it  would  be  inconsistent  to  be  making  much 
of  the  happiness  of  living  machines,  which  were 
so  soon  to  be  hacked  to  pieces  or  blown  to 
atoms.  While  we  gloried  in  the  proofs  they 
gave  that  they  feared  not  them  who  could  kill 
the  body,  what  was  done  to  inculcate  the  fear 
of  Him  "  who  is  able  to  destroy  both  soul  and 
body  in  hell  1"  As  if  their  souls  had  been 
given  them  merely  to  render  their  bodies  more 
serviceable  machines,  who  thought  of  calling 
into  exercise,  and  employing,  any  thing  but 
their  physical  vigor  and  courage?  And  while 
the  necessity  of  doing  something  for  the  tempo- 


24  THE  PRESENT  CONDITION 

ral  advantages  of  so  exposed  and  deserving  a 
class,  forced  itself  in  a  manner  on  the  attention 
of  the  country,  what  was  Christian  benevolence 
planning  or  doing  for  their  eternal  welfare? 
The  only  answer  which  can  be  given  to  these 
inquiries,  is  one  which  rnay  well  cover  us  with 
shame  and  confusion  of  face.  Having  surren- 
dered them  to  a  foe  more  dreadful  than  any 
which  threatened  our  shores,  we  saw  them  per- 
ish by  thousands,  and  yet  allowed  the  destruc- 
tion to  go  on  as  uninterruptedly  as  if  we  had 
apprehended  a  bolt  from  heaven  on  moving  to 
prevent  it.  Their  situation  was,  indeed,  a 
moral  anomaly.  The  most  deserving  class  of 
the  community  was  the  most  neglected  ;  was 
the  only  class  which  could  be  said  to  have  been 
entirely  neglected. 

They  seemed  to  have  escaped  Christian  at- 
tention. Their  depravity  had  become  proverb- 
ial, and  all  were  aware  of  it,  yet  no  man  cared 
for  their  souls.  Conduct  which  would  have 
shocked  us  in  any  other  class,  was  looked  for  in 
them  as  a  matter  of  course.  As  if  religion 
were  not  a  thing  for  sailors,  no  direct  endeavors 
were  made  to  place  it  within  their  reach.  Ef- 
forts were  made  to  impart  the  unspeakable  gift 
to  every  other  class  at  home  and  abroad,  but  as 
if  sailors  had  been  placed  under  a  Divine  inter- 
dict, as  if  the  charter  of  redemption  had  con- 
tained a  clause  excluding  them  from  its  bene- 
fits, they  were  apparently  avoided  and  forgotten. 
"  While  philanthropy  and  Christian  charity 
were  almost  at  a  stand  what  to  attempt  next, 


OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  25 

because  every  thing  seemed  to  be  attempted 
which  man  could  do,  even  then,  with  astonish- 
ment be  it  spoken,  even  then,  there  was  one 
immense  field  of  labor,  stretching  itself  around 
the  nation,  and  lying  in  the  most  forlorn  and 

uncultivated   state This  field   was  our 

maritime  world  !"*  The  only  occasions  on 
which  piety  approached  it  on  an  errand  of  reli- 
gious mercy,  was  when  she  accompanied  her 
missionary  agents  to  embark  for  distant  shores, 
— the  men  who  were  to  convey  those  agents 
were  left  to  perish.  Worse  than  this  !  not  only 
was  nothing  of  a  direct  nature  done  to  place 
salvation  within  their  reach,  if  one  of  them  here 
and  there  ventured  to  approach  the  means  of 
grace,  he  was  not  unfrequently  repulsed.  Many 
a  so-called  Christian  seemed  to  view  it  as  a 
kind  of  presumption  for  a  sailor  to  seek  reli- 
gious instruction  ;  resented  it  as  an  impertinent 
encroachment  on  ground  belonging  exclusively 
to  other  classes  ;  and  if  he  dared  roughly  to  re- 
sent the  insult  which  was  thus  offered  to  his 
common  humanity,  it  was  paraded  as  a  con- 
vincing proof  that  he  was  not  Jit  for  religion, 
nor  religion  for  him.  "  You  cannot  deny," 
said  one  of  them,  at  the  last  anniversary  meet- 
ing of  the  British  and  Foreign  Sailors'  Society, 
4<  that  for  a  long  time  you  almost  every  where 
refused  to  let  sailors  come  to  your  churches.t  I 
have  been  denied  admission  to  the  house  of 

*  The  Ocean  by  the  author  of  the  Retrospect. 
t  Equally  true  of  the  Churches  of  America. 


26  THE  PRESENT  CONDITION 

God.  It  is  true,  I  then  cared  nothing  about  it  ; 
I  was  willing  to  spend  my  time  in  folly,  as  it 
appeared  the  people  ashore  did  not  think  we 
had  any  thing  to  do  with  religion."  "  And 
many  a  congregation  still,"  said  a  lieutenant  of 
the  Navy,  on  the  same  occasion,  "  would  soon 
let  it  be  known  that  sailors  were  intruders." 
Not  only  were  they  left  to  famish,  but  when 
they  sought  to  gather  up  the  crumbs  of  the 
bread  of  life  which  fell  from  our  table,  they 
were  actually  repelled. 

"  The  second  part  of  our  answer  relates  to 
the  utter  inadequacy  of  the  means  we  are  at 
length  employing  in  their  behalf.  It  was  only 
at  so  recent  a  date  as  1816,  that  the  attention 
of  the  Christian  public  was  directed  to  the 
moral  condition  of  seamen.  A  small  congrega- 
tion was  gathered  in  New  York  by  Rev.  Ward 
Stafford  during  that  year,  and  another  in  Bos- 
ton in  1818,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Jenks,  and  another  in 
Philadelphia  1819,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Eastburn  of 
Apostolic  memory.  Since  that  time  congrega- 
tions, and  in  some  instances  churches  have 
been  collected,  and  in  connexion  with  Port  So- 
cieties at  Portland,  Salem,  Boston,  New  Bed- 
ford, New  York,  Philadelphia,  Baltimore,  Rock- 
etts,  Va.  Charlestown,  Savannah,  Mobile  on  the 
sea-board,  and  at  Cleveland,  Buffalo,  Utica 
and  Troy  on  our  inland  waters.  Local  Societies 
have  been  formed  at  some  of  these  places,  for 
the  supply  of  seamen  within  their  limits,  with 
Bibles,  Tracts  and  other  religious  publications. 
In  1828,  the  American  Seamen's  Friend  Society 


OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  27 

was  formed,  "  to  improve  the  social  and  moral 
condition  of  seamen,  by  uniting  the  efforts  of 
the  wise  and  good  in  their  behalf,  by  promoting 
in  every  port,  boarding  houses  of  good  charac- 
ter, Savings  Banks,  Register  Offices,  Libra- 
ries, Museums,  Reading  Rooms,  and  Schools, 
with  the  ministrations  of  the  gospel  and  other 
religious  blessings,  in  our  own  and  other  lands. 
This  Society  has  labored  for  the  intellectual 
and  moral  improvement  of  seamen  in  twelve 
foreign  ports,  viz.  at  Canton,  Havre,  Marseilles, 
Smyrna,  Honolulu,  Rio  Janeiro,  Cronstadt, 
New  Orleans,  Batavia,  Singapore,  Lahaina,  and 
Calcutta.  In  the  first  eight  of  these  places, 
regular  Chaplains  are  supported  entirely  by  the 
Society,  at  an  expense  (including  chapels,  &c.) 
of  not  less  than  $1000  per  annum.  Several 
hundreds  of  dollars  have  been  expended  yearly, 
in  providing  and  distributing  Bibles,  Magazines, 
Temperance  Almanacs,  &c.  The  Society  also 
publish  monthly,  3500  of  their  Sailor's  Maga- 
zine. 

"  In  1836  the  American  Bethel  Society  was 
formed  with  the  object  of  superintending  Bethel 
operations  on  the  Inland  waters,  to  constitute  a 
bond  of  union  between  local  Societies,  and  aid 
them  in  obtaining  funds  and  Chaplains,  as  well  as 
to  establish  other  stations  where  they  seemed  to 
be  needed.  This  Society  circulate  1400  of  their 
Bethel  Magazine,  and  provide  for  the  distribution 
of  Bibles  and  Tracts  by  their  depositories  at  De- 
troit, Marietta,  Ohio  River,  Geneva,  and  Ithaca. 
The  American  Seamen's  Friend  Society  is  the 


28  THE  PRESENT  CONDITION 

largest  and  most  promising  of  these  Associa- 
tions, but  its  present  resources  are  entirely  in- 
adequate to  the  accomplishment  of  its  impor- 
tant task  :  considering  the  limitation  of  its  funds, 
(not  $11,000  a  year,)  and  the  recent  date  of  its 
existence,  it  merits  the  praise  of  having  done 
what  it  could" 

But,  promising  and  cheering  as  these  names 
may  sound,  their  means  of  making  them  more 
than  names  are  so  slender,  that,  when  contrast- 
ed with  the  multitude  which  they  seek  to  bene- 
fit, one  is  inevitably  reminded  of  another  multi- 
tude and  another  slender  supply,  and  constrained 
to  exclaim,  "  What  are  these  among  so  many  ?" 
— nothing  but  a  miracle  can  make  them  ade- 
quate. Their  friends  are  aware  that,  at  pre- 
sent, they  are  only  employing  temporary  expe- 
dients and  provisional  measures,  that  the  great 
mass  of  maritime  evil  has  yet  to  be  explored, 
that  it  is  a  mare  incognitum  not  yet  laid  down 
in  the  charts  of  general  benevolence,  that  only 
a  few  of  the  Christian  public  have  hitherto 
cast  even  a  hasty  glance  towards  it, — they  feel 
that  the  public  attention  has  yet  to  be  aroused 
to  the  neglected  condition  of  our  seamen,  in 
order  to  its  effective  amelioration. 

What  that  condition  is  might  be  inferred 
from  the  very  neglect  to  which,  till  of  late,  it 
seems  to  have  been  almost  unanimously  doom- 
ed. For  let  any  class  of  the  people  be  con- 
signed to  similar  neglect,  and  what  would  be 
the  speedy  and  certain  result,  but  ignorance, 
depravity,  and  perdition  ?  What  that  condi- 


OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  29 

tion  is  might  be  inferred  too  from  that  neglect, 
coupled  with  the  nature  of  a  sailor's  occupa- 
tion, which  takes  him  away  for  days,  and  weeks, 
and  even  months,  from  all  the  ordinary  means 
of  religious  improvement.  Neglect  a  lands- 
man, and  he  may  yet  surmount  the  effect  of 
that  treatment.  He  is  constantly  moving  among 
the  signs  and  mementos  of  religion.  The  re- 
turn of  the  Sabbath  ;  the  weekly  cessation  from 
labor;  the  sight  of  the  Bible  in  his  cottage; 
the  sight  of  the  church,  the  chapel,  and  the 
school,  the  occasional  meeting  with  religious 
persons — these,  and  a  variety  of  other  circum- 
stances, combine  to  prevent  the  idea  of  religion 
from  entirely  vacating  his  mind,  and  may  lead 
him  to  put  forth  an  effort  to  obtain  that  reli- 
gious instruction  to  which  those  around  him 
have  neglected  to  invite  him.  But  neglect  the 
sailor,  and  the  very  nature  of  his  avocation,  by 
removing  him  from  the  presence  of  all  these 
valuable  religious  mementos,  and  casting  his 
lot  on  another  element,  tends  to  complete  the 
evil  which  such  neglect  had  begun. 

His  moral  condition,  under  such  circumstan- 
ces, might  be  inferred,  also,  from  the  high  tem- 
perament of  his  character.  "  Even  for  his 
maladies,"  says  Dr.  Mower,  "  a  sailor  frequent- 
ly provides  a  cause  that  has  in  it  something  of 
the  energy  of  the  winds  and  waves  that  usually 
excite  him.  He  does  not  disorder  his  nerves, 
or  derange  his  stomach  moderately  by  quiet 
sotting  or  occasional  intoxication,  but  resolutely 
keeps  himself  drunk  for  weeks  together ;  and 
3 


30  THE  PRESENT  CONDITION 

after  the  most  perfect  devotion  to  liquor,  till  his 
money  is  expended,  he  comes  with  horrors,  and 
in  a  wild  delirium,  to  the  Seamen's  Hospital." 
His  character  takes  no  middle  rank,  but  tends 
to  the  extreme  either  of  good  or  evil.  The 
amount  of  good  which  it  might  he  made  to  pro- 
duce is  unknown,  for  the  experiment  has  yet  to 
be  made ;  but,  like  every  rich  neglected  soil, 
its  present  produce  must  necessarily  be  a  luxu- 
riance of  evil.  Had  it  been  our  aim  to  deter- 
mine how  large  an  amount  of  evil  it  would  yield, 
if  left  to  entire  neglect,  scarcely  could  we  have 
conducted  the  experiment  more  guardedly,  or 
have  waited  more  patiently  to  see  the  result. 
Alas,  that  it  should  be  found  to  produce  so 
much,  and  that  we  should  be  so  late  in  putting 
a  period  to  the  process ! 

And  the  moral  condition  of  the  sailor,  at  pre- 
sent, might  be  inferred — not  only  from  the  neg- 
lect to  which  he  has  been  consigned,  the  un- 
propitious  nature  of  his  calling  in  relation  to 
the  ordinances  of  religion,  and  his  characteristic 
energy  left  to  the  disposal  of  his  passions — but 
also  from  the  additional  fact,  that  he  is  one  of  a 
very  numerous  and  closely  united  class,  who 
keep  his  irreligion  in  countenance,  and  increase 
it.  He  seldom  emerges,  even  on  land,  out  of 
his  peculiar  circle.  From  custom,  and  choice, 
and  circumstances,  he  confines  himself  almost 
exclusively  to  the  society  of  those  who  can  sym- 
pathize with  his  habits,  and  understand  his 
nautical  phraseology,  and  lives  within  sight  of 
that  element  which  is  his  chosen  home.  And 


OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  31 

by  thus  constantly  moving  in  the  presence  of 
those  only  who  are  all  like  himself,  that  which 
was  bad  in  his  character  becomes  worse,  until 
he  reaches  a  point  of  depravity  in  which  he  is 
in  danger  of  forgetting  that  it  is  possible  for 
him,  or  for  any  man,  to  be  better. 

But  in  ascertaining  the  condition  of  our  mari- 
ners, we  are  not  left  to  mere  probable  evidence. 
In  that  case,  it  might  have  been  suspected  that 
inference  had  misled  us,  or  that  our  fears  had 
exaggerated  the  evils  we  deprecate.  We  have, 
however,  access  to  evidence  direct,  palpable, 
convincing.  The  result  of  that  culpable  neglect 
to  which  they  have  been  consigned  is  twofold. 
First,  it  has  left  them  to  be  the  prey  of  the  de- 
signing and  the  depraved.  Let  the  reader  pe- 
ruse and  ponder  the  following  representation  of 
this  fact  from  the  pen  of  one  whose  magisterial 
office,  in  one  of  the  maritime  districts  of  Lon- 
don, eminently  qualified  him  to  speak  on  the 
subject : — "  Sailors  have  no  friends  to  put  them 
in  the  right  way  ;  whilst  they  are  beset  on  every 
side  by  the  most  voracious  and  profligate  of 
both  sexes,  whose  interest  it  is  to  decoy  them 
into  habits  of  the  most  senseless  improvidence. 
From  the  moment  they  arrive  in  port,  and  be- 
fore they  can  set  foot  on  shore,  till  they  are  not 
only  pennyless,  but  have  exhausted  their  credit 
on  the  most  ruinous  terms,  they  are  made  the 
victims  of  a  regularly  organized  gang  of  land- 
sharks,  who  haunt  them  wherever  they  go. 
Calumniated  and  unprotected  whilst  they  might 
be  able  to  secure  their  independence,  they  be- 


32  THE  PRESENT  CONDITION 

come  objects  of  sympathy  only  when  sickness, 
accident,  or  old  age  has  reduced  them  and  their 
families  to  destitution.  A  sailor's  reception  on 
his  return  to  land  is  ordinarily  a  sorry  recom- 
pense for  the  dangers  and  hardships  of  a  long 
voyage  ;  and  in  a  few  days  he  often  finds  him- 
self shamelessly  stripped  of  the  earnings  of  as 
many  months.  When  on  the  ocean  he  must 
make  up  his  mind  to  be  cut  off  from  domestic 
enjoyment,  but  when  on  land,  it  is  too  often 
embittered  or  destroyed  by  the  profligate  sys- 
tem to  which  he  is  exposed."* 

The  other  evil  arising  from  our  neglect,  ap- 
pears in  their  extreme  depravity.  Let  any  one 
who  is  sceptical  on  this  point  approach  any  of 
the  maritime  districts  of  our  sea-port  towns,  and 
investigate  the  prevailing  character  of  the  neigh- 
bourhood. Where  is  he  likely  to  find  the  law 
of  the  Sabbath  more  disregarded,  or  its  sacred 
rest  disturbed  by  more  boisterous  mirth,  or 
more  profane  language,  than  here  ?  Take,  for 
example,  the  port  of  New- York.  It  is  estimat- 
ed that  10,000  seamen  are  constantly  there. 
Now,  deduct  the  small  proportion  of  those  who 
attend  on  the  worship  of  God  on  the  Sunday,  and 
of  such  as  may  be  employed  in  incumbent  du- 
ties— where  shall  we  look  for  the  large  remain- 
der, and  how  should  we  be  likely  to  find  them 

*  From  Tl>.e  Original;  by  Thomas  Walker,  M.  A., 
Barrister  at  Law,  and  one  of  the  Police  Magistrates  of 
the  Metropolis.  What  was  true  of  London  has  been 
equally  true  of  our  own  seaports. 


OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  33 

occupied  1  And  who  does  not  know  that  the 
habitual  desecration  of  the  Sabbath  is  either  a 
sign  of  confirmed  depravity,  or  is  one  of  the 
most  effectual  means  of  leading  to  it?  Where 
are  we  likely  to  find  so  great  a  proportion  of 
public-houses  and  grog-shops,  as  in  this  quarter  1 
or  to  witness  so  many  instances  of  beastly  in- 
toxication 1  or  to  hear  language  more  licentious, 
and  imprecations  more  appalling  ?  Where  shall 
we  find  so  many  brothels  of  the  lowest  descrip- 
tion 1  or  more  frequently  meet  with  instances 
of  outraged  decency  ?  In  a  word,  where  shall 
we  find  so  large  a  proportion  of  the  voracious 
and  the  profligate  living  on  the  vices  of  others, 
as  we  shall  meet  with  in  such  a  neighbourhood, 
battening  on  the  wasteful  improvidence,  and  the 
debasing  vices  of  our  seamen  ?  Thousands  live 
on  their  depravity. 

And  let  the  reader  remember  that  this  repre- 
sentation applies  not  to  the  sailors  of  some  ports 
merely,  but  of  every  port ;  not  to  an  inconsider- 
able portion  of  the  community,  but  to  a  class 
consisting  of  at  least  144,000.  That  excep- 
tions exist,  we  not  only  readily  but  cheerfully 
admit.  That  exceptions  not  only  exist,  but  that 
in  every  port  where  a  chapel  is  built,  or  a 
church  floats,  or  an  Ark  is  opened  for  seamen, 
they  are  constantly  increasing,  we  firmly  be- 
lieve. But,  alas,  their  paucity  reminds  one  of 
the  small  number  which  once  entered  another 
ark,  "  wherein  few,  that  is,  eight  souls,  were 
saved  by  water."  Even  taking  the  calculation 
of  Christian  charity,  that  about  2000  seamen 
3* 


34  CONDITION  OF  OUR  SEAMEN. 

consistently  profess  the  gospel  of  Christ,  still 
142,000, — the  great  bulk  of  the  class — are  in 
the  deplorable  condition  described.  And  they 
are  in  this  state  with  our  connivance,  and 
through  our  neglect !  142,000  of  the  most  de- 
serving of  our  countrymen,  living,  and,  through 
our  sinful  apathy,  dying,  without  God  in  the 
world  !  He  who  "  when  he  saw  the  multi- 
tudes, was  moved  with  compassion  on  them," 
looks  upon  this  multitude,  and  he  sees  that,  like 
them,  "  they  are  scattered  abroad,  as  sheep 
having  no  shepherd."  "  Verily,  we  are  guilty 
concerning  our  brother  !" 


ZEBULON. 


PART    THE    SECOND. 


PART    THE    SECOND. 


REASONS  WHY  THE  PUBLIC  IN  GENERAL,  AND  ALL  CHRISTIANS 
IN  PARTICULAR,  SHOULD  PROMOTE  THE  MORAL  AND  RELI- 
GIOUS IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN. 


WERE  the  American  community  to  be  divided 
into  classes  for  the  sake  of  distinguishing  and 
weighing  their  respective  claims  on  Christian 
effort,  what  class  could  establish  a  stronger 
claim,  or  one  which  might  be  left  more  confi- 
dently to  its  own  peculiar  merits,  than  that 
which  comprises  our  seamen  ?  Their  condi- 
tion is  one  of  which  the  simplest  statement  is 
the  strongest.  It  speaks  for  itself  in  terms  more 
affecting  than  any  advocate  can  employ  for  it. 

1.  There  are  other  classes,  indeed,  which 
would  outnumber  it ;  but  in  determining  a  ques- 
tion of  this  nature,  number  is  only  one  consider- 
ation among  many ;  and,  as  it  will  appear  in 
the  present  instance,  a  consideration  of  minor 
importance. — The  claims  before  us  are  of  a 
moral  nature,  and  can  only  be  determined  by 
moral  considerations. 


38  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

Let  it  be  supposed,  for  example,  that  a  whole 
fleet  is  in  danger  of  destruction.  Three  of  the 
fleet  can  be  saved.  Their  names  we  will  sup- 
pose to  be  Commerce,  Manufacture,  and  Agri- 
culture. The  first  is  supposed  to  have  a  hun- 
dred souls  on  board  ;  the  second,  two  hundred  ; 
and  the  third,  three  hundred.  But,  though  all 
are  in  danger,  the  peril  of  the  first,  we  will  sup- 
pose, is  evidently  the  most  imminent.  Would 
not  every  principle  of  wisdom  and  humanity 
dictate,  that  notwithstanding  the  comparative 
smallness  of  her  crew,  the  Commerce  should 
have  the  benefit  of  our  endeavours  first  ?  But 
suppose  that  on  nearing  her,  we  learnt  that  her 
crew  was  more  than  we  had  expected — that  in- 
stead of  100,  it  consisted  of  150  souls,  and  all 
these  in  the  jaws  of  destruction — should  we  not 
feel  so  many  additional  motives  for  putting  forth 
our  utmost  efforts  to  save  them  ?  This  fleet  is 
the  American  community.  All  its  classes  are 
in  danger.  But  we  have  already  seen,  and  shall 
presently  show  more  clearly  still,  that  the  con- 
dition of  the  maritime  class  is  by  far  the  most 
perilous  and  urgent.  And  because  they  are 
numerically  less  than  the  manufacturing  and 
agricultural  population,  shall  we  leave  them,  in 
the  extremity  of  their  danger,  to  perish  ? 

On  ascertaining  their  number,  however,  we 
find  that  it  is  by  no  means  insignificant.  Ame- 
rica has  16,000  vessels,  employing  144,000  men. 
Had  their  number  been  only  25,000,  that  would 
not  have  made  their  exigency  less,  nor  have 
diminished  our  duty  to  save  them.  But  they 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  39 

amount  to  ten  times  that  number,  and  though 
that  does  not  increase  the  duty  we  owe  to  each, 
it  greatly  increases  the  duty  we  owe  to  the 
whole.  Every  additional  unit  should  be  felt  as 
an  additional  inducement  to  attempt  their  sal- 
vation. 

2.  But  this  is  only  one  view  of  the  question. 
It  would  be  easy  to  show  that  that  class  of  a 
community  which,  numerically  considered,  is 
the  least  important,  may  yet,  morally  consider- 
ed, be  the  most  important.  We  have  seen  that 
the  maritime  class  is  important,  if  on  no  other 
ground  than  its  numbers.  We  would  now  ad- 
vert to  certain  considerations  which  would  in- 
vest it  with  surpassing  interest,  were  those  num- 
bers insignificant. 

What  class  can  appeal  more  truly  to  their 
past  sufferings  than  sailors?  or  establish  a 
stronger  claim  on  our  gratitude  and  generosity  1 
Generous  themselves  to  a  fault,  reckless  of  dan- 
ger, and  lavish  of  their  blood  in  the  defence  of 
their  country,  they  seem  thrown  entirely  on  the 
nobler  feelings  of  their  fellow-countrymen.  Who 
has  not  been  affected  while  reading  that  tale  of 
Grecian  story  which  relates  that  when  ^Eschy- 
lus  was  condemned  to  death  at  Athens,  his  bro- 
ther Aminias  procured  the  reversal  of  the  sen- 
tence, by  uncovering  an  arm,  of  which  the  hand 
had  been  cut  off  at  the  battle  of  Salamis,  in  the 
service  of  his  country  ?  who  has  not  felt  the 
mute  eloquence  of  that  appeal  ?  The  religious 
public  constitutes  a  court,  not  of  legal  justice, 
but  of  Christian  benevolence  ;  and  as  it  weighs 


40  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

the  respective  claims  of  the  various  classes  of 
the  community  on  its  regard,  does  it  call  for  our 
seamen  to  appear  ?  Would  not  the  apt  repre- 
sentative of  that  class  be  a  man  who  had  been 
maimed  and  mutilated  in  battle  ?  a  manly  figure, 
shorn  of  its  fair  proportions,  in  the  service  of 
his  country,  while  we  were  peacefully  pursuing 
our  daily  course,  or  securely  slumbering  in  our 
homes  ?  And  shall  he  exhibit  his  scarred  and 
dismembered  person  in  vain  ?  If  a  warm  and 
undisguised  heart  can  win  our  regard  ;  if  a 
dauntless  courage  in  encountering  enemies, 
and  unbounded  generosity  in  succouring  the 
distressed,  should  engage  our  esteem  ;  if  the 
calm  endurance  of  sufferings,  perseverance 
amidst  difficulties,  and  patriotic  ardour,  should 
command  our  esteem,  then  have  our  seamen 
established  an  irresistible  claim  on  our  gratitude 
and  generosity,  for  in  these  qualities  they  have 
abounded. 

3.  The  services  of  the  naval  class,  both  in 
the  time  of  peace  and  of  war,  make  a  powerful 
appeal  to  our  sense  of  justice.  Their  profes- 
sion is  far  from  being  of  an  ordinary  description: 
our  situation  makes  such  an  occupation  indis- 
pensable, and  yet  probably  the  great  mass  of  the 
community  would  revolt  at  the  idea  of  entering 
and  pursuing  it :  then,  are  we  not  laid  under 
obligations  to  the  class  which  does  devote  itself 
to  the  occupation  ?  In  the  time  of  war,  our 
navy,  under  Providence,  defends  our  home. 
"  And  should  war  again  sound  its  alarm,  it  must 
be  to  our  seamen,  as  instruments  in  the  hands 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  41 

of  Providence,  that  we  must  look  for  future  pro- 
tection and  deliverance.  Their  ships  must 
form  a  rampart  to  begird  our  coasts  ;  their  bos- 
oms, so  often  bared  to  the  storm,  must  then  be 
presented  to  the  enemy's  cannon."*  Then 
shall  we  not  provide  for  the  spiritual  welfare,  the 
eternal  security,  of  those  who  watch  so  patient- 
ly, and  contend  so  bravely,  for  our  temporal 
safety?  In  the  time  of  peace,  they  eminently 
contribute  to  our  national  wealth,  and  furnish 
us  with  many  of  our  domestic  cornfprts.  And 
if  they  minister  to  us  in  temporal  things,  is  it 
too  much  for  us  to  minister  to  them  in  those 
which  are  spiritual  ?  Oh,  were  only  a  thou- 
sandth part  of  the  labour,  the  hazard,  the  ar- 
dour, the  costly  self-sacrifice,  of  the  maritime 
class  in  the  cause  of  the  national  welfare,  to  be 
repaid  by  Christians  in  the  promotion  of  its  reli- 
gious interest — if  only  justice  were  done  to  it — 
how  large  and  active  the  machinery  of  benevo- 
lence which  would  instantly  be  put  into  motion 
on  its  behalf! 

4.  A  sense  of  our  past  neglect  should  operate 
as  an  incentive  to  instant  exertion  and  future 
diligence  in  favour  of  our  seamen.  "  We  were 
a  people,"  says  one  who  formerly  belonged  to 
them,t  "  at  once  caressed  and  neglected,  hon- 
oured and  despised.  Our  courage  in  the  battle 
and  the  storm  was  applauded  ;  our  services  were 
acknowledged  to  be  great  and  meritorious  ;  our 

*  The  Ocean,  by  the  author  of  the  Retrospect. 
i  The  author  of  the  Retrospect,  &c. 
4 


42  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

wouuds  were  bound  up  and  healed  ;  and  our 
fame  was  blazoned  through  the  world.  But  our 
moral  conduct  engaged  little  or  no  attention; 
our  depravity  excited  no  pity  ;  our  profane  and 
rude  manners  made  us  shunned  by  one  part  of 
the  community  and  despised  by  anpther," 

But  our  insensibility  to  their  claims  has  not 
discharged  us  from  the  debt  we  owe  them. 
While  we  have  been  slumbering,  our  arrears  of 
duty  have  gone  on  hourly  increasing.  While 
we  have  been  slumbering,  they  have  been  per- 
ishing. From  the  shores  of  eternity  they  cast 
back  on  us  looks  of  upbraiding  and  reproach, 
because  we  never  stretched  out  a  friendly  hand 
to  save  them  from  destruction  ;  and  because, 
while  every  other  class  was  enjoying  the  benefit 
of  our  Christian  solicitude,  we  entirely  neglect- 
ed them.  From  eternity  they  implore  us  in- 
stantly to  warn  their  brethren  and  children,  lest 
they  also  corne  to  the  place  of  torment.  And 
shall  we  not  acknowledge  the  force  of  the  ap- 
peal 1  The  present  generation  of  seamen  is 
inheriting  all  the  fatal  consequences  of  our  guil- 
ty neglect  of  the  past, — shall  we  not  hasten  to 
repair,  as  far  as  present  diligence  can  be  regard- 
ed as  a  reparation  for  past  neglect,  our  fatal 
negligence  of  former  generations,  by  instant 
and  earnest  endeavours  for  the  present? 

5.  In  estimating  the  claims  of  sailors  on  our 
benevolent  regard,  it  is  important  to  bear  in 
mind  their  peculiar  perils.  '*  They  that  go 
down  to  the  sea  in  ships,  that  do  business  in 
great  waters  ;  these  see  the  works  of  the  Lord, 


IMPROVEMENT  OP  OUR  SEAMEN.  43 

and  his  wonders  in  the  deep.  For  he  com- 
mandeth,  and  raiseth  the  stormy  wind,  which 
lifteth  up  the  waves  thereof.  They  mount  up 
to  the  heavens,  they  go  down  again  to  the 
depths  :  their  soul  is  melted  because  of  trouble. 
They  reel  to  and  fro,  and  stagger  like  a  drunk- 
en man,  and  are  at  their  wit's  end."  In  con- 
nexion with  this  vivid  description  of  mariners  in 
a  storm,  the  readers  of  Scripture  will  think  of 
Jonah  when,  coasting  the  Mediterranean  to 
Tarshish,  "  the  sea  wrought,  and  was  tempes- 
tuous :"  and  of  a  greater  than  Jonah  when, 
crossing  the  Galilean  sea  with  his  disciples, 
"  behold,  there  arose  a  great  tempest  on  the 
sea,  insomuch  that  the  ship  was  covered  with 
the  wares  :"  and  of  the  great  apostle  of  the 
Gentiles,  with  his  companions,  wrecked  in  the 
Adriatic  gulf,  and  escaping,  "  some  on  boards, 
and  some  on  broken  pieces  of  the  ship."  And 
how  many  a  mariner  can  actually  adopt  the 
language  of  the  same  apostle,  and  say,  "  twice 
have  I  suffered  shipwreck,  a  night  and  a  day 
have  I  been  in  the  deep." 

At  sea,  every  thing  that  breaks  the  monotony 
of  the  surrounding  expanse  attracts  attention. 
"  One  day,"  says  Washington  [rving,  describ- 
ing his  voyage  across  the  Atlantic,  "  we  descri- 
ed some  shapeless  object  drifting  at  a  distance. 
It  proved  to  be  the  mast  of  a  ship  that  must 
have  been  completely  wrecked  ;  for  there  were 
the  remains  of  handkerchiefs,  by  which  some 
of  the  crew  had  fastened  themselves  to  this  spar 
to  prevent  their  being  washed  off  by  the  waves. 


44  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

There  was  no  trace  by  which  the  name  of  the 
ship  could  be  ascertained.  The  wreck  had 
evidently  drifted  about  for  many  months  ;  clus- 
ters of  shell-fish  had  fastened  about  it,  and  long 
sea-weeds  flaunted  at  its  sides.  But  where, 
thought  I,  is  the  crew  ?  Their  struggle  has 
long  been  over — they  have  gone  down  amidst 
the  roar  of  the  tempest — their  bones  lie  whiten- 
ing among  the  caverns  of  the  deep.  Silence, 
oblivion,  like  the  waves,  have  closed  over  them, 
and  no  one  can  tell  the  story  of  their  end. 
What  sighs  have  been  wafted  after  that  ship  ! 
what  prayers  offered  up  at  the  deserted  fireside 
at  home  !  How  often  has  the  betrothed,  the 
wife,  the  mother,  pored  over  the  daily  news,  to 
catch  some  casual  intelligence  of  this  rover  of 
the  deep  !  How  has  expectation  darkened  into 
anxiety — anxiety  into  dread — and  dread  into 
despair  !  Alas,  not  one  memento  shall  ever  re- 
turn for  love  to  cherish.  All  that  shall  ever  be 
known  is,  that  she  sailed  from  her  port,  '  and 
was  never  heard  of  more.'  " 

When  the  wind  is  howling  around  our  com- 
fortable habitations, — that  "  it  must  be  a  dread- 
ful time  at  sea,"  are  "  familiar  household  words." 
And  when  gales  of  days'  or  weeks'  continuance 
rage  round  our  coasts,  we  say  that  "  we  must 
expect  to  hear  of  wrecks."  No  sooner,  how- 
ever, does  the  storm  subside,  than  the  subject 
is  dismissed.  Or,  if  a  few  of  lively  sympathy 
go  the  length  of  congratulating  the  mariner,  in 
thought,  on  the  returning  calm,  how  small  the 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  45 

number  of  those  who  attempt  to  follow  the 
drowned,  in  thought,  into  eternity  ! 

How  affecting,  how  appalling  the  statement, 
that  "  for  every  sixteen  sailors  who  die  of  all 
diseases,  eleven  die  by  drowning,  or  in 
wrecks."* 

It  appears  by  a  report  of  a  Committee  of  Par- 
liament on  the  extent  of  loss  in  property  and 
lives  at  sea,  that  between  1833  and  1835  inclu- 
sive, there  were  1573  vessels  stranded  or  wreck- 
ed, and  during  the  same  period,  there  were  129 
vessels  missing  or  lost,  making  a  total  of  1702 
vessels  wrecked,  and  missing  in  the  period  of 
three  years.  The  amount  of  property,  in  those 
vessels  was  believed  to  be  .£8,510,000  while 
2682  lives  were  lost  at  the  same  time. 

On  our  own  coast  it  appears  by  the  Sailor's 
Magazine  for  January  1837,  that  316  vessels 
and  826  lives  were  lost  in  1836.  Now,  estimate 
the  value  of  each  vessel  and  cargo  at  20,000  dol- 
lars, we  have  the  amount  of  6,320,000  dollars 
lost  the  last  year  by  shipwrecks. 

Well,  indeed,  might  an  ancient  philosopher 
inquire,  when  distributing  the  human  race  into 
the  two  classes  of  the  living  and  the  dead,  "who 

*  Such  is  the  result  of  a  careful  calculation  over  a 
space  often  years,  by  Mr.  H.  Woodroffe,  Secretary  of 
the  Seamen's  Society,  South  Shields ;  "  but,"  he  adds, 
"  during  the  last  four  years,  ending  March  last,  on 
looking  over  the  books,  and  taking  the  account  of  sea- 
men of  the  port,  they  are  as  17  to  16  of  all  other  cases ; 
and  the  cholera  has  been  raging  heavily."  This,  how- 
ever, is  a  special  case  ;  and  applies  in  all  its  extent  only 
to  the  port  of  Tyne. 
4* 


46  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

can  determine  in  which  class  we  are  to  enter 
the  names  of  those  on  the  sea  ?"  At  this  mo- 
ment, perhaps,  while  the  reader  is  quietly  peru- 
sing these  lines,  the  sea,  in  some  parts,  is  lashed 
into  fury.  Deep  is  calling  unto  deep.  A  ves- 
sel is  staggering  and  plunging  from  the  moun- 
tain waves  down  into  the  roaring  caverns. 
Death  is  raging  around  it,  seeking  for  his  prey. 
A  moment  longer — a  nail  starts,  a  seam  yawns, 
the  masts  plunge  over  the  side — he  enters,  and 
the  vessel  disappears.  So  literally  and  empha- 
tically true  is  it  of  the  seaman,  that  there  is  but 
a  step  between  him  and  death  ! 

And  should  not  a  consideration  of  the  more 
than  ordinary  perils  of  a  sailor's  life,  impel  us 
to  do  something  more  than  ordinary  for  his  sal- 
vation ?  When  one  who  is  in  earnest  to  save  his 
fellow-men  from  perdition,  deems  it  necessary 
to  explain  or  defend  his  earnestness,  he  points 
to  the  brevity  and  uncertainty  of  human  life. 
By  adverting  to  the  solemn  fact  that  the  objects 
of  his  solicitude  will  soon  have  passed  beyond 
the  reach  of  his  instrumentality,  he  feels  that 
he  has  sufficiently  justified  his  zeal,  and  estab- 
lished the  duty  of  doing  whatsoever  his  hand 
findeth  to  do  with  all  his  might.  But  here  is  a 
whole  class  of  our  fellow-countrymen,  in  rela- 
tion to  whom  the  ordinary  span  of  human  life 
is  contracted  to  little  more  than  half.  "The 
average  life  of  seamen,"  said  Nelson,  "  is,  from 
hard  service,  finished  at  forty-five."*  But  how 

*  Southey's  Life  of  Nelson  ;  Family  Library  Edition, 
page  294. 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  47 

much  earlier  is  it  finished  if  perils  be  reckoned 
as  well  as  labours  !  Short  as  the  ordinary  day 
of  life  is,  here  is  a  class  of  men  whose  sun  goes 
down  while  it  is  yet  day.  Had  we  reason  to 
believe  that  our  own  lives  would  only  average 
this  period,  would  not  the  command  of  our  Lord, 
to  "  work  while  it  is  day,"  come  on  us  with 
greater  emphasis  and  effect?  But  if  our  period 
of  usefulness  be  abridged,  whether  by  the  cur- 
tailment of  our  own  lives,  or  of  the  lives  of  those 
whose  salvation  we  seek,  the  practical  effect 
should  be  the  same — it  should  redouble  our 
efforts  for  their  salvation. 

When  the  life  of  a  criminal  is  about  to  be 
forfeited  to  the  laws  of  his  country,  those  who 
are  anxious  for  his  salvation  cultivate  the  short 
remainder  of  his  time  with  a  zeal  proportioned 
to  its  brevity.  Here  is  a  class  of  men  whose 
every  return  to  port  is  to  be  looked  on  only  as 
a  reprieve  from  destruction, — should  not  similar 
assiduity  mark  our  conduct  towards  them  ?  Do 
we  not  seem,  in  our  treatment  of  them,  to  have 
taken  leave  of  common  kindness,  and  of  all  the 
methods  by  which  Christian  benevolence  usual- 
ly regulates  its  proceedings?  Ordinary  zeal 
would  be  insult  here  :  the  call  for  activity  is 
extraordinary  ;  yet  we  have  not  evinced  even 
common  solicitude.  Shall  it  be  necessary  for 
us  to  hear  their  dying  shriek,  to  see  them  per- 
ishing before  our  eyes,  before  we  extend  to  them 
a  friendly  hand  ?  Oh,  let  us  imagine  that  we 
are  saving  men  in  a  storm — that  we  see  them 
sinking — rapidly  disappearing  in  the  raging 


48  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

waves  around  us, — that  a  moment  lost,  is  a  soul 
lost — for  ever  ! 

Be  it  remembered  also  that  the  same  perils 
which  terminate  the  lives  of  our  seamen  early, 
terminate  most  of  them  suddenly.  One  of  the 
kindest  arrangements  of  Him  who  willeih  not 
the  death  of  a  sinner,  consists  in  the  slow  and 
regular  steps  with  which  death  is  made  to  ap- 
proach. Since  it  is  appointed  unto  all  men 
once  to  die,  and  to  come  to  the  close  of  their 
mortal  probation,  it  is  a  provision  unspeakably 
gracious,  that  a  period  of  slow  and  gradual  de- 
cay should  give  friendly  warning  for  days,  arid 
weeks,  and,  often,  even  months  beforehand, 
that  the  coming  of  the  Lord  draweth  near. 
Even  the  Christian  owns  its  value,  though,  for 
years  he  may  have  been  substantially  prepared 
for  the  final  change.  From  sudden  death,  he 
prays  to  be  delivered,  as  from  an  evil.  But,  for 
the  impenitent  sinner,  the  provision  we  speak 
of  is  of  infinite  value.  It  severs  him  from  his 
unholy  associates  and  pursuits,  calls  him  away 
from  the  objects  which  have  hitherto  diverted 
his  attention  from  religion,  shuts  him  up  in  the 
solitude  and  silence  of  a  sick  chamber,  gives 
him  an  opportunity  of  taking  an  impartial  sur- 
vey of  his  past  conduct  and  his  future  prospects, 
of  receiving  the  visits  of  Christian  friends,  and 
of  casting  himself,  though  at  the  final  hour,  at 
the  feet  of  hitherto  insulted  mercy.  But  here 
is  a  class  of  men,  many  of  whom  are  deprived 
of  the  benefits  of  this  merciful  arrangement  also. 
For  them  the  probationary  period  is  not  only 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  49 

shortened,  but  closed  abruptly.  Not  only  is 
their  day  oflife  unnaturally  brief,  but  it  has  no 
lengthening  warning  shadows,  no  sober  eve,  no 
twilight  hour,  for  reflection. 

How  affecting  to  think  that  the  great  majori- 
ty of  those  who  have  perished  at  sea,  were  cut 
off  suddenly  in  the  prime  oflife.  The  earth  is 
the  grave  of  infantine  weakness,  of  diseased 
emaciation,  of  worn-out  age,  but  the  ocean  is 
the  tomb  of  the  young,  the  vigorous,  the  brave. 
While  yet  they  were  full  of  heart  and  hope, 
buoyant  as  the  bark  in  which  they  had  careered 
over  the  waves,  the  lightning  smote  them,  or 
the  boom  struck  them  overboard  ;  they  fell  from 
aloft,  or  the  resistless  wave  washed  them  from  the 
deck  ;  the  ship  sprung  a  leak,  or  stranded,  or 
struck  ;  the  boat  sunk,  or  the  tempest  gathered, 
burst,  and  overwhelmed  them.  "  Thou  didst 
blow  with  thy  wind,  the  sea  covered  them,  they 
sank  like  lead  in  the  mighty  waters."  Under 
circumstances  the  most  unfavourable  for  reflec- 
tion or  prayer,  "  in  a  moment,  in  the  twinkling 
of  an  eye,"  they  passed  into  the  presence  of 
their  Judge. 

How  affecting  to  anticipate  the  day  when 
"  the  sea  shall  give  up  the  dead  which  were  in 
it ;"  when — 

"  From  out  their  watery  beds,  the  Ocean's  dead. 
Renewed,  shall,  on  the  unstirrintr  billows,  stand, 
From  pole  to  pole,  thick  covering  all  the  sea." 

How  appalling  to  reflect  that  of  the  countless 
hosts  which  the  sea  shall  then  surrender  up — 


50  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

more  numerous  than  its  waves — the  great  mass 
perished  suddenly,  "  went  down  quick."  And, 
oh  !  what  ground  there  is  to  fear  that  (hey  died 
unprepared — died  in  anger  with  death — died, 
and  "  gave  no  sign,"  but  that  of  impenitence — 
died,  and  offered  no  prayer  but  that  of  horrid 
imprecations — died  amidst  noise  and  tumult 
hostile  to  salutary  reflection  !  But  who  shall 
attempt  to  picture  the  awful  scenes  which  will 
then  ensue  1  And  shall  we  wait  till  the  sea 
give  up  its  dead,  before  we  awake  to  a  sense  of 
our  responsibility?  Shall  we  delay  till  we  see 
them  standing  for  judgment,  before  we  begin  to 
weigh  their  claims,  or  to  consider  the  conse- 
quences of  our  guilty  neglect?  Shall  the  hosts 
of  those  who  will  then  arise  unprepared  go  on 
augmenting,  and  we  make  no  combined  effort 
to  prevent  it  ? 

6.  The  religious  privations  of  sailors  entitle 
them  to  a  large  share  of  our  Christian  solici- 
tude. Their  privations,  even  of  a  domestic  and 
social  kind,  are  such  as  to  distinguish  them 
from  all  other  classes  of  society,  and  to  excite 
the  wonder  and  sympathy  of  numbers.  But 
what  are  these  when  compared  with  the  loss  of 
religious  advantages  !  And  yet  of  these  advan- 
tages the  sailor  is  almost  entirely  deprived  ! 

"  The  Sabbath  was  made  for  man."  It  was 
graciously  appointed  by  Him  who  knows  the 
constitution  arid  necessities  of  our  nature.  And 
who  that  marks  the  humanizing  and  ennobling 
moral  influence  which  the  stated  observance  of 
the  Sabbath  exerts--,  even  on  those  who  only 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  51 

outwardly  regard  it,   does  not   admire   the  wis- 
dom and  goodness   which   appointed   it  ?     But 
of  this  wise  and  beneficent  provision,  the  sailor 
is  to  a  considerable  degree  deprived.     Shall  we 
not,   then,   study  to  repair  the  loss  by    every 
means  which  an  ingenious  and  diligent  Chris- 
tian benevolence  can  supply  ?     The  Sabbath  is 
spoken  of  by  God  as  his  crowning  gift  to  a  peo- 
ple,— "  moreover,  also,  I  gave  them  Sabbaths," 
— for  the  nation  which  has  no  Sabbath  will  soon 
have  no  religion.     But  to  the  maritime  part  of 
a  nation  this  distinguishing  gift  of  God  is  com- 
paratively lost.     The  very  nature  of  their  call- 
ing,  to  a  certain  extent,  precludes  them  from 
enjoying  it.    Shall  we  not  attempt  to  meet  their 
special  exigency  by  a  special  provision  ?     The 
ordinances  of  religion  are  spoken  of  by  God, 
and  frequently  promised,  as  marks  of  his  pecu- 
liar love  to  a  people  :  for  he   has   not  only  hal- 
lowed the   Sabbath,   but   blessed  it — made  it  a 
day  of  special  grace.    This  is  why  the  Christian 
would  rather  be  a  door-keeper   in   the  house  of 
the  Lord,  than  dwell  in  the  tents  of  wickedness. 
But  here  is  a  class  whose  occupation   removes 
and  exiles  them  from  the  ordinary  privileges  of 
public  devotion — takes  them  without,  and  away 
from,  the  pale  of  stated  congregational  worship. 
It  is  true  that  where   piety   prevails,   it  will 
maintain  its  wonted  communion   with  God, — 
like  Paul  in  the  storm,  and  on  the  verge  of  ship- 
wreck, taking  bread  and  giving  thanks  to  God 
in  jthe  presence  of  all  on  board.     And  there  is 
reason  to  believe,  also,  that  where  a  disposition 


52  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

to  hallow  the  Sabbath  exists  in  those  who  com- 
mand, Sunday  sailing  would  be  found  much  less 
necessary  than  it  is  generally  deemed ;  and, 
when  at  sea,  opportunities  of  joining,  not  only 
in  the  weekly,  but  even  in  the  daily  worship  of 
God,  might  oftener  be  found  than  they  now  are. 
The  "  Retrospect"  tells  us  of  a  commander  of 
one  of  his  Majesty's  ships  of  war,  who,  though 
his  vessel  was  very  inferior  in  point  of  force  and 
sailing,  yet,  through  a  winter,  and  in  a  climate 
far  more  severe  than  our  own,  was  continually 
under  way,  chasing,  cutting  off,  or  boarding  the 
enemy's  vessels  in  shore,  while  our  squadron  of 
larger  ships  could  do  little  more  than  lie  off  at 
anchor,  and  witness  his  almost  incredible  per- 
severance. But  even  this  state  of  incessant  ac- 
tivity and  severe  public  duly  did  not  prevent  his 
performing  morning  and  evening  prayers  every 
day  !  And  the  records  of  our  societies  testify, 
that  many  of  the  Bethel  captains,  regarding 
their  men  and  boys  as  their  families,  maintain 
the  practice  of  daily  worship  on  board. 

But  while  such  instances  illustrate  the  power 
of  superior  piety  in  surmounting  difficulties, 
they  must  be  received  as  liable  to  many  excep- 
tions. For,  besides  that  many  of  the  opportu- 
nities for  worshipping  God  at  sea  must  be  ne- 
cessarily inferior  to  the  quiet  of  the  domestic 
altar  and  the  stated  ordinances  of  God's  house, 
the  best  intentions  on  the  part  of  the  captain 
will  often  be  frustrated  by  the  winds  and  the 
waves.  The  sea  is  the  aptest  and  most  ancient 
emblem  of  uncertainty  ;  and  every  one  that 


IMPROVEMENT  OP  OUR  SEAMEN.  53 

places  himself  at  its  disposal  must  accommodate 
himself  to  its  moods.  To  him,  the  Sabbath 
brings  many  of  the  duties  of  any  other  day. 
This  is  particularly  the  case  in  the  merchants' 
service,  where  there  are  but  few  hands,  and 
where  all,  at  times,  are  laboriously  employed, 
from  the  captain  who  commands  to  the  seamen 
who  obey.  The  sails  must  be  reefed,  or  taken 
in  ;  the  ship  must  be  steered,  or,  if  needful, 
tacked  ;  defects  must  be  supplied,  and  disasters 
repaired  as  soon  as  they  occur  ;  while  a  gale 
may  keep  all  hands  on  the  alert  for  days  and 
nights  together.  While  his  friends  on  shore 
are  listening  to  the  still  small  voice  of  the  gos- 
pel, the  sailor  "  afar  off  upon  the  sea,"  may  be 
deafened  by  the  hoarse  voice  of  the  tempest,  and 
the  roar  of  the  storm  :  and  that  which  to  them 
is  a  day  of  rest,  may  be  to  him  a  day  of  toil,  and 
peril,  and  wrestling  with  death.  And  one  of 
the  consequences  of  this  uncertainty  and  irre- 
gularity is,  that  the  Sabbath  comes  either  to  be 
totally  neglected  ;  or,  if  not  quite  undistinguish- 
able  from  the  other  days  of  the  week,  what  is 
still  worse — its  only  distinction,  at  sea,  consists 
in  attending  to  personal  cleanliness  :  in  foreign 
ports,  it  is  devoted  to  recreation  and  license  on 
shore  :  and  at  home,  as  may  be  easily  seen  in 
any  of  our  sea-ports  and  fishing-towns,  it  is  spent 
in  greater  excesses  of  intemperance  and  profa- 
nity. 

Here  then  is  a  class  whose  religious  priva- 
tions are  such  that  a   person,  judging   hastily 
and  from  appearances,  might  almost  be  tempted 
5 


54  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

to  think  that  the  God  of  mercy,  in  providing 
the  means  of  grace  for  others,  had  disregarded 
and  passed  them  by.  The  Sabbath  which  he 
has  given  to  others,  is  but  seldom  enjoyed  by 
them.  The  ordinances  of  public  worship  which 
he  has  instituted  for  the  general  good,  shed  little 
of  their  sacred  influence  upon  them.  Could 
the  person  bring  himself  to  believe  in  the  pre-ex- 
istence  of  the  soul,  he  might  almost  imagine  that 
they  belonged  to  a  class  which,  for  some  unparal- 
leled guilt  iu  a  former  life,  were  doomed  to  be  ex- 
cepted  from  the  ordinary  provisions  of  mercy  in 
this  life.  But  the  privations  under  which  they  are 
labouring  are  partly  voluntary,  and  partly  invo- 
luntary. By  far  the  greater  proportion,  we  have 
seen,  is  voluntary  ;  and  of  that,  we  must  divide 
the  guilt  with  them.  The  explanation  relative 
to  that  which  is  involuntary  is  easy  : — the  ordi- 
nances of  nature  are  older  than  the  ordinances 
of  grace,  and  were  not  meant  to  be  controlled 
by  them  ;  and  the  sailor,  by  placing  himself  al- 
most entirely  at  the  disposal  of  the  former,  is 
deprived  of  the  full  enjoyment  of  the  latter. 
Now,  if  one  of  the  great  laws  of  nature  relating 
to  the  supply  of  food  had  failed  to  a  people  for 
only  a  single  season,  and  involved  them  in  scar- 
city and  famine,  should  we  not  hasten  to  their 
relief?  Bat  here  is  a  class  to  whom,  owing  to  the 
peculiarity  of  their  calling,  the  great  ordinances 
of  grace  which  supply  the  bread  of  life,  come 
scantily  and  irregularly  ;  and  this,  not  for  a 
season  merely,  but  for  all  time.  Here  is  a  class 
whose  probabilities  of  salvation,  humanly  speak- 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  55 

ing,  are  incomparably  less,  at  present,  than 
those  of  any  other  class  of  the  community  ; — 
and  why  ? — because  their  opportunities,  their 
means  of  salvation  are  less,  and  God  is  a  God  of 
order  who  works  by  means. 

In  order  to  realize  this  distressing  idea,  let 
the  reader  of  these  lines  imagine,  if  he  be  a 
parent,  that  his  children  are  from  this  day  to 
mingle  with  seamen,  to  pursue  their  calling, 
and  to  incur  their  religious  privations — does  he 
not  feel  as  if  the  probabilities  of  their  salvation 
would  from  this  day  be  painfully  diminished  ? 
If  he  be  a  minister  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  let 
him  imagine  that  all  the  youths  in  his  congre- 
gation are  from  this  day  to  do  business  in  great 
waters,  and  to  follow  the  occupation  of  seamen  ; 
— would  he  not  feel  as  if  his  expectations  con- 
cerning them  were  all  but  blasted  ?  and  would 
not  his  parting  address  to  them  evince  how 
much  his  fears  were  stronger  than  his  hopes  ? 

To  place  our  sailors,  then,  on  a  level  with 
others  in  point  of  religious  advantages,  we  must 
evidently  employ  extraordinary  means.  Indeed, 
recourse  is  obliged  to  be  had  to  peculiar  mea- 
sures in  order  to  put  them  as  nearly  as  possible 
on  a  level  with  others  in  certain  temporal  re- 
spects. The  land-mark  must  be  reared,  the 
lighthouse  must  be  kindled,  the  life-boat  must 
nightly  be  kept  ready  for  launching,  and  all  the 
various  apparatus  and  methods  which  ingenuity 
and  humanity  have  devised,  (and  still  they  are 
devising  others,)  must  be  placed  and  prepared 
for  instant  use  ;  while  session  after  session  the 


56  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

legislature  is  employed  in  framing  enactments 
and  provisions  to  suit  their  peculiar  case.  And 
shall  the  Christian  Church  do  nothing  special 
to  meet  the  exigency  of  their  spiritual  condi- 
tion ?  Shall  the  life-boat  be  launched  to  snatch 
them  from  destruction  1  and  shall  we  not  point 
them  to  the  ark  of  salvation  from  the  second 
death?  Shall  the  light-house  be  kindled?  and 
shall  we  not  be  seen  "  holding  forth  the  word 
of  life" — the  Pharos  of  a  tempest-tossed  and  be- 
nighted world  ?  Not  only  should  we  labor  to 
remedy  the  grievous  religious  privations  which 
at  present  they  voluntarily  endure, — by  special 
provision  made  for  their  welfare  while  they  are 
on  shore,  we  should  aim  to  compensate  for  their 
unavoidable  privations  at  sea. 

7.  We  have  already  glanced  at  the  peculiar 
temptations  of  seamen  ;  and  what  a  touching 
and  powerful  claim  on  our  sympathy  arises  from 
this  ground.  Profanity,  intemperance,  extrava- 
gance, and  licentiousness,  are  their  besetting 
sins.  And,  though  they  may  be  chargeable 
with  these  sins  only  in  common  with  the  de- 
praved of  other  classes,  their  temptations  to 
commit  them  are  of  a  kind  and  a  degree  pecu- 
liar to  themselves.  The  very  restraints  imposed 
on  the  indulgence  of  their  passions  while  at  sea, 
prepares  them  on  their  return  to  plunge  into 
unusual  depths  of  iniquity.  The  current  of 
their  depravity,  which,  if  left  to  flow  on  un- 
checked and  at  will,  might  have  exhibited  noth- 
ing peculiar,  acquires,  by  the  temporary  check, 
a  fullness  and  a  force,  which,  on  resuming  its 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  57 

course,  carries  them  far  beyond  the  point  of 
ordinary  sin.  During  their  absence,  too,  a 
check  has  been  placed  on  their  friendly  and 
social  feelings  ;  they  return  to  meet  with  com- 
panions and  friends  whom  they  love,  and  the 
occasion  calls  forth  and  justifies  a  flow  of  feel- 
ing, which  but  too  often  leads  to  carousal,  and 
ends  in  excess.  Their  return  to  port,  too,  is 
not  unfrequently  felt  by  them  to  be  an  escape 
from  imminent  danger  ;  and  all  that  pleasura- 
ble excitement  experienced  on  such  occasions, 
and  which  if  rightly  directed  would  ascend  in 
gratitude  to  God,  too  often  expresses  itself  in 
extra  carousals  and  boisterous  mirth.  They 
compliment  their  own  skill  and  daring ;  "they 
sacrifice  to  their  own  net,  and  burn  incense  to 
their  own  drag,"  and  only  shout  moie  loudly  a 
bacchanalian  song,  which  drowns  the  memory 
of  the  past,  and  madly  defies  the  future.  Let 
it  be  remembered,  also,  that  the  accumulated 
sums  ia  which  they  receive  their  wages,  give 
them  the  power  of  "  running  to  an  excess  of 
riot."  Multitudes  of  our  artificers  and  work- 
men of  various  trades.,  on  receiving  only  the 
wages  of  the  week,  cease  to  labor  as  long  as  a 
shilling  remains:  but  the  sailor  receives  an 
amount  comparatively  inexhaustible ;  and  the 
consequence  is  that  his  improvidence  and  ex- 
cesses are  comparatively  greater. 

But  that  which  constitutes  the  strength  of  all 

the  temptations  to  which   the  sailor  is  exposed, 

is  the  notorious  fact  that  they  are  all  organized 

and  plied  with  the  force  and  certainty  of  an  in- 

5* 


58  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

fernal  system.  Let  the  reader  peruse  and  pon- 
der the  following  accounts  of  this  dreadful  sys- 
tem furnished  by  the  late  Mr.  Walker,  whose 
magisterial  office,  as  we  have  already  intimated, 
gave  him  an  opportunity  of  watching  the  work- 
ing of  the  plot.  *  "  There  is  no  class  of  men 
who  meet  with  such  ill  treatment  from  their 
fellow-creatures  as  sailors.  After  suffering  the 
hardships  of  the  sea,  and  toiling  with  uncon- 
querable labor,  they  are  beset  on  their  return 
from  each  voyage  by  the  most  villanous  and  the 
most  profligate  of  the  species,  for  the  purpose 
of  robbing  them  of  their  hard-earned  wages  ; 
whilst  those  who  should  step  foward  to  protect 
them,  leave  them  to  their  fate,  or  even  hold  that 
they  are  capable  of  nothing  better.  When  a 
vessel  arrives  from  a  long  voyage,  the  crimps, 
or  keepers  of  sailors'  lodging-houses,  are  on  the 
alert  to  get  as  many  of  the  crew  into  their 
power  as  possible.  Boats  are  sent  to  fetch  the 
men  ashore,  and  the  watermen  receive  a  fee 
from  each  crimp  for  every  sailor  they  can  bring. 
The  sailors  leave  the  vessel,  often  I  believe 
made  half  drunk,  without  money,  and  with 
nothing  but  their  chest,  upon  which  the  crimps 
advance  them  money,  till  they  receive  their 
wages.  Every  temptation  is  put  in  their  way 
to  lead  them  to  extravagance  and  recklessness. 
An  exorbitant  bill  is  made  out,  the  amount  of 
which  is  deducted  from  their  wages,  and  they 

*  The  statements  of  Messrs.  Walker  and  Moore  are 
substantially  true  of  our  own  seaports. 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  59 

are  robbed  or  defrauded  of  the  balance.  As 
soon  as  they  land,  they  are  sponged  upon  by  a 
set  of  idle  fellows,  who  hang  about  the  docks, 
pretending  to  be  unable  to  get  employment,  or 
to  have  been  old  shipmates  ;  and  they  are  plun- 
dered and  imposed  upon  by  the  most  profligate 
women.  It  is  in  a  great  measure  a  confedera- 
tion against  them,  from  which  they  have  no 
chance  of  escape.  Each  party  plays  more  or 
less  into  the  other's  hands.  I  have  occasion  to 
see  frequent  instances  of  these  abominations, 
and  in  general  they  are  so  contrived,  that  there 
is  no  remedy  or  punishment.  It  frequently 
happens,  that  a  sailor,  who  has  sixty  or  seventy 
pounds  to  receive,  will  have,  at  the  end  of  a 
few  days,  an  enormous  bill  made  out  against 
him  by  a  crimp,  for  what  he  and  his  hangers 
on  are  alleged  to  have  consumed,  and  for  money 
advanced  to  supply  his  extravagance  in  his 
freaks  of  intoxication.  For  his  balance  there 
is  an  eager  contest  among  the  harpies  who  sur- 
round him,  which  leads  them  sometimes  to  the 

most  barefaced  and  scandalous  practices In 

the  lowest  of  the  sailor's  public-houses,  there 
are,  at  the  back,  what  are  called  long-rooms, 
the  walls  of  which  are  painted  with  ships  or 
other  devices  :  and  here  are  to  be  witnessed  at 
almost  all  hours,  but  principally  at  night,  scenes 
of  the  greatest  villany  and  debasement.  Sailors 
who  are  entrapped  into  these  long-rooms,  or 
similar  places,  are  kept  in  a  constant  state  of 
reckless  excitement,  and  they  never  think  of 
returning  to  sea,  till  they  have  got  rid  of  all 


60  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

their  wages  ;  indeed,  I  believe,  they  are  not 
unfrequently  glad  when  their  means  are  gone, 
as  the  only  chance  they  have  of  escaping  from 
the  fangs  of  those  who  surround  them." 

In  corroboration  of  this  affecting  statement, 
the  writer  would  add  the  following  paragraph, 
from  Mr.  Mark  Moore's  "  Evidence  before  the 
Committee  of  the  House  of  Commons,  on  drunk- 
enness," in  1834: — "For  more  than  three 
years  I  was  connected  with  a  Society  establish- 
ed for  the  improvement  both  of  the  morals  and 
the  temporal  condition  of  sailors,  and  in  that 
capacity  I  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  not  only 
a  great  deal  of  sailors,  but  also  of  their  places 
of  resort,  at  the  east  end  of  London.  I  have 
visited,  for  that  purpose,  most  of  the  public 
houses  in  that  part  of  the  metropolis,  and  I  sup- 
pose there  are  not  less  than  twenty  of  those 
houses,  where,  at  the  back  of  the  gin-shops, 
there  are  what  are  called  '  long-rooms ;'  those 
long-rooms  will  contain  from  100  to  300  per- 
sons ;  and  every  evening,  almost,  all  those 
rooms  are  full  of  sailors  and  girls  of  the  town, 
and  a  class  of  men,  principally  Jews,  called 
Crimps;  and  it  is  truly  distressing  to  see  the 
demoralization  not  only  of  the  sailors,  but  also 
of  the  other  individuals  who  frequent  those  dis- 
graceful places.  Some  of  these  houses,  I  am 
sorry  to  say,  are  kept  open  at  all  hours  during 
the  night.  I  have  been  into  those  '  long-rooms' 
at  ten  and  eleven  o'clock  at  night ;  and  the 
whole  company,  perhaps  200  or  300  persons, 
have  been  drinking  and  dancing,  till  the  poor 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  61 

fellows  are  in  a  most  dreadful  state.  It  is  a 
very  common  practice  for  the  girls  to  get  vari- 
ous articles,  such  as  laudanum  and  other  drugs, 
put  into  the  liquor  of  the  sailors,  who  thus  be- 
come completely  intoxicated :  they  are  then 
easily  prevailed  upon  to  accompany  them  to 
their  lodgings  ;  and  they  soon  sink  into  a  state 
of  total  stupefaction  :  they  are  then  robbed  of 
every  penny  they  possess,  and  very  often  of 
their  new  clothes  ;  and,  when  they  awake,  an 
old  jacket  and  an  old  pair  of  trowsers  are  all 
the  articles  left  to  them.  I  have  known  in- 
stances of  men  being  thus  robbed  of  30/.,  40/., 
or  50/.,  at  a  time."  What  a  complication  of 
temptation,  debasement,  and  helplessness ! 

But  let  us  trace  the  working  of  the  system  a 
step  farther,  and  we  shall  find  that  the  despoil- 
ers  of  these  helpless  victims  often  become  their 
accusers.  "  It  is  a  subject  that  comes  particu- 
larly home  to  me,"  says  Mr.  Walker,  "  because 
I  have  had  occasion  so  often  to  become  ac- 
quainted, in  my  magisterial  capacity,  with  the 
dreadful  impositions,  robberies,  and  profligacy, 
which  are  consequent  upon  the  arrival  of  any 
number  of  vessels  from  distant  parts  of  the 
globe  ;  and,  from  the  arts  that  are  practised 
against  sailors  by  gangs  of  confederates,  in  de- 
coying, and  stupifying  them  with  liquor  and 
with  drugs,  it  is  generally  quite  impossible  to 
fix  any  proof  of  guilt.  In  fact,  they  are  almost 
helplessly  exposed  to  every  combination  of  vil- 
lany,  and  whether  they  are  the  accusers  or  the 
accused,  they  are  almost  equally  objects  of  pity, 


62  MORAL,  AND  RELIGIOUS 

I  have  known  instances  of  sailors  being  robbed 
of  fifty  pounds  or  upwards,  the  very  day  they 
received  it ;  but  having  been  first  rendered 
senseless,  detection  is  impossible.  Sometimes, 
the  day  following  their  corning  ashore,  or  even 
the  same  day,  they  are  themselves  brought  for 
drunkenness  and  disorder,  the  consequence  of 
conspiracy  against  them ;  and  when  remon- 
strated with  on  their  imprudence,  they  will  pa- 
thetically lament  their  helpless  situation." 

Now  what  can  result  from  such  a  state  of 
things  operating  on  minds  already  vicious — 
what,  but  a  rapid  growth  of  depravity,  torment- 
ing remorse,  self-abandonment,  and  reckless- 
ness in  guilt,  which  shall  prepare  them,  in  turn, 
to  become  the  tempters  and  the  destroyers  of 
others !  But  are  we  not  responsible  for  the 
continuance  of  this  system  of  iniquity  1  To  the 
full  amount  to  which,  under  God,  it  is  in  our 
power  to  correct  the  evil,  unquestionably  we 
are.  And,  be  it  remembered,  that  every  mo- 
ment we  delay  to  take  the  necessary  steps,  the 
evil  goes  on  increasing  in  vigor,  and  extending 
its  operations. 

In  confirmation  of  this  statement,  the  public 
papers  report  that  a  series  of  scandalous  frauds 
have  lately  been  brought  to  light  in  Doctors' 
Commons.  They  have  been  effected  by  parties 
who  have  taken  out  letters  of  administration, 
and  made  oath  of  their  being  next  of  kin,  or 
only  surviving  relatives,  of  seamen  who  have 
died  at  sea,  and  thus  obtained  the  wages  due  to 
them  at  their  decease.  The  fraudulent  parties 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  63 

have  consisted  chiefly  of  Jew  crimps,  swearing 
that  they  are  brothers  of  the  deceased  seamen  ; 
or  else,  in  concert  with  women  pretending  to 
be  the  wives  of  the  deceased.  This  solitary 
fact  would  he  sufficient  to  give  us  an  idea  of 
the  organized  nature  of  the  system  in  operation 
against  seamen  ;  of  the  wide  ramifications  of 
that  system  ;  of  the  daring  and  determined  cha- 
racter of  those  who  work  the  system,  and  follow 
it  as  their  ordinary  calling;  and  who,  not  con- 
tent with  ruining  the  sailor  in  life,  follow  and 
persecute  him  after  death  in  the  person  of  his 
poor  and  suffering  relatives.  It  may  give  us 
also  an  idea  of  the  utter  helplessness  of  the  sai- 
lor in  the  hands  of  such  a  class,  when  even  his 
legal  protectors  themselves  can  be  thus  deceived 
and  over-reached  by  them.  Like  the  flying  fish, 
which  escapes  from  the  olbacore  in  its  native 
element,  only  to  be  pounced  on  by  the  man-of- 
war  bird  waiting  to  devour  it,  the  sailor  no 
sooner  escapes  the  perils  of  the  deep,  than  he 
is  the  object  of  instant  attack  from  those  who 
live  by  preying  arid  feasting  on  his  misery,  on 
shore.  On  coming  to  anchor,  he  exhibits  the 
spectacle  of  a  helpless  victim,  bound  hand  and 
foot,  and  passed  from  the  ship  to  the  crimp, 
from  the  crimp  to  the  long-room,  from  the  long- 
room  to  the  brothel,  and  from  the  brothel  to 
a  ship  again — watched  and  guarded  at  every 
stage,  and  his  fetters  unrelaxed — glad  to  escape, 
though  with  injured  health,  and  the  loss  of  all 
his  earnings,  to  take  refuge  amidst  the  perils  of 
the  sea  from  the  greater  perils  of  the  land. 


64  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

8.  The  neglected  and  debased  condition  of 
our  seamen  renders  them  the  means  of  immense 
evil  to  others,  both  at  home  and  abroad.  Its 
pernicious  effects  do  not  terminate  with  them- 
selves. Ship  owners  suffer,  and  the  maritime 
interest  generally.  How  many  vessels  have 
been  lost,  how  many  valuable  cargoes  sunk, 
through  the  one  sin  of  drunkenness  alone  ! 
"  Society  at  large,"  observes  Mr.  Walker,  "  is 
much  interested,  from  selfish  motives,  as  well 
as  from  motives  of  humanity,  in  shutting  up  the 
fertile  field  which  the  improvidence  of  sailors 
offers  to  vice  and  crime.  And  even  a  regard 
for  the  profligates  and  criminals  themselves 
should  induce  an  effort  to  remove  temptation 
out  of  their  way."  "  It  is  a  matter  of  great 
consequence  also  to  the  rest  of  society  on  its  own 
account,  because  the  harvest  which  the  present 
state  of  seafaring  men  affords  to  the  vicious  and 
the  criminal,  is  one  great  cause  of  so  many  dep- 
redators, who  prey  at  other  times  upon  the  vari- 
ous classes  of  the  public It  is  to  be  observ- 
ed that  the  immense  quantity  of  crime  and  pau- 
perism that  springs  directly  and  indirectly  from 
the  present  want  of  moral  cultivation  among  sai- 
lors, is  to  be  paid  for  by  the  public  in  addition 
to  their  wages If  any  laborer  by  his  im- 
providence becomes  a  pauper,  or  causes  any  of 
those  who  ought  to  be  dependent  on  him  to  be- 
come paupers,  the  expense  of  that  pauperism  is 
to  be  added  to  his  wages,  to  make  up  the  whole 
cost  of  his  labor  ;  and,  in  the  same  manner,  if 
he  is  guilty  of  crime,  or  tempts  others  to  be 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  65 

guilty,  the  expense  incident  to  that  crime  is 
likewise  to  be  reckoned  part  of  the  cost  of  his 
labor,  though  it  is  not  paid  by  his  employers, 
but  by  the  public." 

From  this  representation,  then,  it  is  evident, 
that  the  merchant,  the  political  economist,  the 
statesman,  and  the  patriot,  are  alike  called  on 
to  remedy  the  evils  we  deprecate,  and  are  all 
interested  in  the  success  of  their  measures. 
But  the  Christian  philanthropist,  without  un- 
dervaluing these  considerations,  will  look  above 
and  beyond  them  all  to  the  moral  effects  of 
these  evils.  Here,  he  will  say,  is  a  large  class 
of  men  who  cannot  be  ruined  themselves,  with- 
out instrumentally  injuring  and  ruining  multi- 
tudes of  others.  The  interest  and  energy  pe- 
culiar to  their  character,  invest  them  with 
considerable  influence  over  those  with  whom 
they  associate  ;  and,  if  that  influence  be  evil, 
the  injury  must  be  immense.  Many  of  them 
have  families.  "  The  ignorant,  ungodly  sea- 
man's house  is  the  habitation  of  extravagance 
and  want,  of  riot  and  wretchedness,  of  misery 
and  sin.  He  returns  to  it  after  a  successful 
voyage,  only  to  expend  his  hard-earned  wages 
in  excess  and  irreligion  ;  and  he  leaves  it  again 
in  hunger,  in  wretchedness,  and  in  rags."* 
Whether  the  supposition  be  true,  that  that 
dreadful  scourge  the  cholera,  pursued  the  course 
of  rivers,  and  the  outline  of  the  coast,  or  not, 
here,  at  least,  is  a  moral  epidemic,  a  thousand- 

*    The  Ocean. 


66  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

fold  more  fatal,  pursuing  this  identical  track, 
diffusing  infection  wherever  it  comes,  and  rag- 
ing with  a  virulence  which  sweeps  off  almost 
all  before  it.  But,  unlike  those  who  attempted 
in  vain  the  removal  of  that  malady,  we  possess 
a  grand  specific  for  the  disease  which  we  de- 
plore. Shall  we  delay  to  administer  it  ?  "Is 
there  no  balm  in  Gilead  ?  is  there  no  physician 
there  ?  why  then  is  not  the  health  of  the  daugh- 
ter of  my  people  recovered  ?" 

But  the  Christian  philanthropist  will  remem- 
ber that  the  evil  does  not  terminate  at  home. 
Our  sailors  carry  the  moral  contagion  abroad. 
A  traveller  in  Egypt  relates  with  astonishment, 
that  he  met  with  natives  of  that  country  who 
could  utter  the  most  awful  oaths  in  the  English 
language,  although  they  knew  no  other  words 
in  our  tongue.  His  inquiries  soon  elicited  the 
information,  that  they  had  learnt  thus  to  swear 
from  our  sailors.  Truly  might  they  say, — 

"  You  taught  us  language  ;  and  our  profit  is, — 
We  know  how  to  curse  ! — " 

It  is  well  known  that  the  blasphemies  of  our 
sailors  became  a  by-word  and  a  proverb,  and 
the  oath  they  most  commonly  swore,  the  nick- 
name by  which  they  were  called. 

"  In  a  striking  instance  mentioned  to  me,* 
by  one  of  our  arctic  adventurers,  such  was  the 
pernicious  effect  of  the  ill  behaviour  of  a  body 

*  Discourses  to  Seamen  ;  by  the  Rev.  W.  Scoresby, 
Chaplain  of  the  Mariners'  Church,  Liverpool,  &c. 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  67 

of  our  countrymen  in  a  remote  district  of  North 
America,  that  disgrace  had  been  entailed  both 
upon  the  nation  to  which  they  belonged,  and 
the  religion  which  they  professed.  Such  irre- 
parable injury  had  they  done  to  their  character 
in  their  dealings  with  the  natives,  that  were  the 
Indians  of  that  district  called  upon  to  describe, 
by  a  single  word,  the  character  of  a  man  in  all 
respects  false,  dishonest,  and  base,  they  would 
designate  him  by  the  name  of  a  Christian  !" 

J 

The  greatest  obstacles  to  the  success  of  many 
of  our  missionary  efforts  abroad,  have  hitherto 
arisen  from  the  depraved  and  atrocious  conduct 
of  British  and  American  seamen.  At  the  last 
anniversary  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Sailors' 
Society,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Williams,  a  missionary 
from  the  South  Sea  Islands,  declared  the  dread- 
ful effects  produced  on  the  minds  arid  manners 
of  the  natives  by  the  profligacy  and  cruelty  of 
seamen,  arid  deplored  the  visits  of  many  of  them 
as  a  source  of  demoralization  to  the  heathen 
part  of  the  population,  and  of  fear  to  those  who 
are  converted. 

Evidence  to  the  same  effect  might  be  fur- 
nished in  abundance  from  the  records  of  our 
various  missionary  societies.  In  the  Church 
Missionary  Register,  a  letter  from  Capt.  W. 
Jacob,  of  the  East  India  Company's  service,  re- 
fers to  a  battle  fought  between  some  native 
tribes  in  the  "  Bay  of  Islands,"  in  Feb.  1830, 
"  which  arose  out  of  a  dispute  between  two  of 
the  wretched  objects  who  had  been  welcomed 
on  board  the by  her  commander.  These 


68  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

transactions  owe  their  origin  entirely  to  that 
improper  intercourse  which  it  is  lamentable  to 
find  is  too  generally  allowed  between  the  most 
degraded  portion  of  the  native  population  and 
the  shipping,  to  the  scandal  of  our  country  in 
that  part  of  the  world.  There  is  much  to  dis- 
courage missionary  efforts  in  the  scenes  of  im- 
morality and  vice  which  are  constantly  exhibit- 
ed, through  the  intercourse  subsisting  between 
the  islands  and  the  shipping,  and  the  dissolute 
ha.bits  of  many  of  the  inhabitants  which  that 
intercourse  has  engendered.  While  we  were 
solemnizing  Divine  service  at  Korosarika,  we 
were  much  concerned  to  find  that,  within  hear- 
ing and  within  sight  of  our  congregation,  two 
boats  full  of  Europeans  from  the  whalers  in  the 
bay,  were  rioting  in  a  state  of  brutal  intoxica- 
tion, to  the  disgrace  of  their  country.  These 
are  among  the  numerous  hindrances  which  at 
present  exist  to  any  extensive  reception  of 
Christianity  among  the  people." 

The  Rev.  W.  O.  Croggon,  Wesleyan  mis- 
sionary at  Zante,  in  a  letter  dated  May  8,  1833, 
remarks,  "  the  state  of  British  sailors  abroad 
is  shocking  beyond  description.  It  grieves  one 
to  the  heart  to  behold  them  so  given  up  to  in- 
toxication." An  appeal  from  the  London  Mis- 
sionary Society,  Dec.  16,  1833,  alluding  to 
"  the  baneful  influence  of  seamen  on  foreign 
missions,"  remarks,  "  Our  brethren  state  that 
the  besetting  sin  in  Tahiti  at  present  is  drunk- 
enness ;  that  it  has  produced  the  greatest  mis- 
chief in  the  churches ;  and  this  state  of  things, 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  69 

which  fills  the  directors  with  the  greatest  dis- 
tress, is  attributed  greatly  to  American  and 
British  sailors,  who  have  established  a  number 
of  grog-shops  on  shore,  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
tailing spirits,  and  who  have  induced  the  chiefs 
to  become  traffickers  in  rum." 

The  history  of  their  conduct  at  Lahaina 
alone,  one  of  the  Sandwich  group  of  islands, 
would  be  sufficient  to  brand  their  character 
with  lasting  disgrace.  Often  have  they  sent 
armed  boats  on  shore  there  for  the  most  licen- 
tious purposes,  and  have  even  carried  away 
many  of  the  native  women  from  the  island. 
And  more  than  once,  they  have  thus  landed 
with  the  sworn  determination  of  firing  the  mis- 
sionaries' houses,  and  taking  their  lives,  on  ac- 
count of  the  restraints  which,  through  mission- 
ary influence,  had  been  laid  on  their  licentious 
practices.  And,  doubtless,  had  they  not  been 
prevented  by  the  natives,  who  armed  in  multi- 
tudes to  protect  their  religious  teachers,  they 
would  have  carried  their  murderous  threats  into 
effect.  But  what  a  deep  reproach  to  America 
does  this  scene  exhibit, — a  people,  just  emerg- 
ing from  the  most  barbarous  heathenism,  "  de- 
fending with  their  lives  the  ministers  of  Christ, 
whilst  Americans,  shameless  Americans,  panted 
to  wade  through  their  blood  to  gratify  their  sin- 
ful passions !" 

The  unbridled  licentiousness  of  our  seamen 

is  written  in  many  places  in  characters  which 

will  not  soon   be   effaced — in   deep,   dreadful 

traces  of  disease.    Odious  maladies — the  brand- 

6* 


70  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

marks  of  unhallowed  passions — once  unknown 
to  the  poor  islanders  of  the  Pacific  and  the 
Southern  Oceans,  painfully  attest  that  the  Brit- 
ish and  American  sailor  has  been  there.  But 
among  the  numerous  and  distressing  illustra- 
tions which  might  be  furnished  of  the  depraved 
conduct  of  our  sailors  abroad,  the  following,  sup- 
plied by  a  captain  commanding  one  of  the  Hon. 
East  India  Company's  ships,  strikes  the  writer 
as  most  affecting  :* — "  When  I  was  lying  at 

,  in   the   East  Indies,  with   seven  or  eight 

sail  of  East  India  ships  in  company, 

most  of  the  men  in  the  fleet  were  following 
their  own  corrupt  inclinations  (i.  e.  on  the  Sab- 
bath day)  on  shore.  And  it  is  painful  to  relate, 
that  so  depraved,  and  so  extremely  wicked  were 
their  manners,  that  it  even  affected  the  feelings 
of  the  heathen  natives  ;  so  much  so,  that  the 
idolatrous  priests,  and  others  associated  with 
those  chiefs  in  their  worship,  used  every  means 
in  their  power  to  prevail  on  those  Christian 
sailors  to  embrace  their  religion  ;  and  it  ap- 
peared they  had  no  other  motive  than  that  of 
making  them  better  men." 

Well,  indeed,  might  the  language  of  the  pro- 
phet to  rebellious  Israel  be  addressed  to  multi- 
tudes of  our  sailors,  Ye  have  been  a  curse  among 
the  heathen.  What  a  powerful  counteracting 
effect  must  their  evil  influence  exercise  on  mis- 
sionary labor !  Whether  they  go  before  the 

*  Related  by  Mr.  Timpson  in  his,  "  What  have  I  to 
do  with  Sailors?"  page  18,  19;  an  excellent  manual, 
especially  for  young  persons. 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  71 

missionary,  and  pre-occupy  the  ground  with 
thorns,  or  come  after  him,  and  sow  tares  among 
the  wheat;  whether  they  influence  the  natives 
by  simply  inoculating  them  with  the  virus  of 
their  own  depravity,  or  prejudice  their  minds 
against  the  English  character  and  the  Christian 
name  by  acts  of  cruelty  and  oppression,  the 
effects  must  be  alike  injurious  to  missionary 
success.  Like  the  South  American  chief  in  the 
early  days  of  Spanish  conquest,  when  the  priest 
travelled  in  the  rear  of  the  advancing  army  to 
baptize  the  captive  converts,  the  heathen  na- 
tives can  but  little  desire  to  go  to  the  heaven 
which  the  English  missionary  proclaims,  if  the 
English  sailor  is  to  be  there  also.  By  our  con- 
cern then  for  the  success  of  the  gospel  in  for- 
eign lands,  we  are  bound  to  ameliorate  the  cha- 
racter of  our  seamen.  There  is  a  sense,  too, 
in  which  they  themselves  are  to  be  regarded  as 
missionaries.  Yes,  whether  we  will  or  not, 
they  are  missionaries.  The  world  has  its  mis- 
sionaries as  well  as  the  church,  and  these  are 
they.  And  until  they  are  rendered  missiona- 
ries of  good,  they  will  continue  to  act  as  mis- 
sionaries of  evil  ;  and  will  operate  far  more  ex- 
tensively in  ruining  the  souls  of  men,  than  the 
missionaries  of  the  gospel  do  in  saving  them. 

But  if  they  now  form  a  mighty  agency  of  evil, 
they  might  become  a  powerful  agency  of  good. 
If  our  apathy  and  neglect  do  not  forbid,  the 
language  of  the  prophet  to  Israel  may  be  con- 
fidently applied  to  them,  "  It  shall  come  to  pass 


72  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

that  as  ye  were  a  curse  among  the  heathen,  so 
will  I  save  you,  and  ye  shall  be  a  blessing." 

9.  There  are  many  elements  in  their  charac- 
ter, which,  when  baptized  and  sanctified  by  the 
Holy  Spirit,  contain  the  promise  of  eminent 
piety.  May  we  not  warrantably  suppose,  that 
this  was  one  reason  why  the  Saviour  of  the 
world  devoted  so  much  of  his  ministry  to  the 
maritime  part  of  the  Jewish  population  ?  Ca- 
pernaum, on  the  sea  of  Tiberias,  was  his  adopt- 
ed town.  It  was  on  the  "  sea  coast"  that  he 
commenced,  and  principally  pursued  his  minis- 
try. There,  the  greater  proportion  of  "  his 
mighty  works  were  performed."  His  largest 
audiences  were  composed  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  sea  coasts  ;  he  found  the  greatest  number 
of  disciples  there  ;  and  there  his  cause  most  il- 
lustriously triumphed. 

The  character  of  the  class  is  substantially 
the  same  still.  They  are  capable  of  quick  and 
abiding  impressions ;  full  of  grateful  and  gene- 
rous affections  ;  with  a  superstitious  but  strong 
belief  in  a  superintending  Providence  ;  a  deep 
veneration  for  signs,  and  omens,  and  old  ob- 
servances ;  a  feeling  of  intense  interest  in  tales 
relating  to  the  invisible  world,  and  to  the  ap- 
pearance of  spiritual  beings.  This  must  be 
evident  to  any  one  who  knows  any  thing  of  the 
marvellous  stories  of  the  fair  weather  middle 
watch  ;  and  the  very  figure  at  the  bow — derived 
from  the  ancient  tutela,  or  chosen  patron  of  the 
ship,  to  which  prayers  and  sacrifices  were  daily 
offered,  and  which  was  held  so  sacred  as  to 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  73 

offer  a  sanctuary  to  those  who  fled  to  it — even 
this  figure,  considering  the  deep  feelings  with 
which  it  is  generally  regarded,  indicates  the 
existence  of  a  state  of  mind,  the  very  reverse  of 
a  selfish,  cold,  heartless  scepticism.  Here, 
then,  are  elements  of  the  most  improveable  na- 
ture ;  a  deep  substratum  of  rich  and  warm  feel- 
ing, such  as  we  may  suppose  the  apostle  Paul 
would  have  delighted  to  work  in  ;  and  which, 
by  whomsoever  it  may  be  wrought  in  earnest- 
ness and  faith,  could  not  fail,  under  the  Divine 
blessing,  to  issue  in  a  character  of  simple,  glow- 
ing, and  vigorous  piety. 

Other  characteristics  mark  them  out  for  emi- 
nent usefulness.  And  might  not  our  Lord  have 
been  influenced,  in  the  selection  of  his  disci- 
ples, by  a  regard  to  these  qualities?  Peter  and 
Andrew,  James  and  John — a  third  part  of  his 
disciples — were  called  from  their  ships  to  fol- 
low him  ;  Matthew  was  called  from  the  quay  of 
Capernaum ;  and  it  would  appear,  from  the  ac- 
count of  a  scene  subsequent  to  the  resurrection 
of  Christ,  John  xxi.  1—3,  that  "  Thomas  and 
Nathaniel,  ....  and  two  other  of  his  disciples," 
were  not  strangers  to  the  work  of  "  casting  a 
net  into  the  sea ;"  and  even  St.  Paul  himself 
was  a  native  and  citizen  of  a  maritime  city. 
He  knew  that  their  apostolic  duties  would  sub- 
ject them  to  privations,  require  courage,  and 
call  them  to  sail  to  distant  places  to  become 
"  fishers  of  men."  For  this,  their  daily  employ- 
ment had  prepared  them  ;  rendering  them  hardy, 
laborious,  and  bold.  And,  accordingly,  after 


74  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

his  ascension,  we  find  them  voluntarily  incur- 
ring the  greatest  dangers,  patiently  enduring 
the  greatest  toils,  and  compassing  sea  and  land, 
to  achieve  the  noblest  objects. 

The  same  intrepidity,  ardor,  and  devotodness 
to  the  cause  they  espouse,  distinguish  our  sea- 
men as  a  class;  these  are  the  qualities  which 
have  made  them  useful  to  their  country  ;  and 
the  same  characteristics  which  have  rendered 
them  so  eminently  serviceable  to  the  cause  of 
America,  need  only  be  sanctified  and  rightly 
directed,  in  order  to  be  equally  useful  in  the 
cause  of  God.  Happy  day  for  our  country, 
when  her  maritime  population  "  shall  be  holi- 
ness to  the  Lord  !"  Then,  her  sailors  shall  re- 
turn, not  to  "  riot  in  chambering  and  wanton- 
ness," but  to  tell  of  "  the  works  of  the  Lord, 
and  his  wonders  in  the  deep ;"  they  "  shall 
visit  their  habitation,  and  shall  not  sin."  Their 
arrival  on  shore  shall  furnish  occasion  for  grate- 
ful praise,  and  their  departure  to  sea  shall  call 
forth  prayers  and  devout  commendations  to  God. 
The  very  qualities  which  now  make  them  to  be 
feared  and  shunned,  shall  then  excite  affection 
and  esteem  ;  for  they  shall  coast  our  shores, 
and  sail  from  port  to  port,  as  the  agents  of  Chris- 
tian benevolence,  freighted  with  the  blessings 
of  the  gospel  of  peace. 

And  does  not  their  calling  mark  them  out 
for  extensive  usefulness,  as  well  as  their  char- 
acter? In  a  literal  sense,  their  "  field  is  the 
world."  They  are  citizens  of  the  world.  They 
are  the  missionaries  of  commerce  to  the  ends  of 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  75 

the  earth  ;  and,  whether  the  church  of  God 
avail  itself  of  their  agency  or  not,  to  the  ends  of 
the  earth  they  will  continue  to  go; — what  an 
instrumentality  is  here !  what  a  magnificent 
agency  for  good  !  And  shall  it  remain  com- 
paratively unemployed  ?  Is  there  not  ground 
to  believe  that  one  of  the  reasons  why  Britain 
has  been  allowed  to  possess  the  commerce  of 
the  world  is  that  she  might  possess  the  neces- 
sary facilities  for  the  evangelization  of  the  world  ? 
Is  it  not  remarkable  that  the  three  nations  in 
which  reformed  Christianity  chiefly  prevails, — 
England,  America,  and  Holland, — should  be 
the  three  most  commercial  nations? — and  must 
not  the  obvious  design  of  Providence  in  this 
marked  arrangement  force  itself  on  every  re- 
flecting Christian  mind  ?  Had  England  and 
America  acted  in  accordance  with  this  design  ; 
had  we  duly  regarded  the  welfare  of  our  sailors, 
and  trained  them  up  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord, 
how  different  an  aspect  might  the  world,  at  this 
moment,  have  presented  !  How  much,  for  in- 
stance, might  we  have  done  for  China  by  this 
time,  by  the  mere  distribution  of  tracts,  had  our 
sailors  been  men  "  valiant  for  the  truth  :"  where- 
as those  very  sailors  themselves  are  there  perish- 
ing for  lack  of  knowledge  ;  and  an  affecting 
appeal  has  just  been  made  to  the  Christians  of 
these  United  States  in  their  behalf,  by  a  mis- 
sionary just  entered  into  rest.* 

*  Rev.  E.  Stevens,  American  Seamen's  Chaplain  at 
Whampoa,  China  ;  in  an  Appeal  to  the  Friends  of  Sea- 


76  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

Our  sailors  may  yet  be  a  blessing  to  the  ends 
of  the  earth.  Not  only  might  they  be  restrain- 
ed from  being  a  hindrance  to  the  missionary's 
efforts  abroad,  they  might  become  his  active 
and  powerful  auxiliaries.  The  ancient  Jews 
were  denominated  God's  witnesses, — to  give  evi- 
dence to  the  world  in  his  behalf;  Christians  are 
called  the  epistles  of  Christ,  and  are  said  to  be 
known  and  read  of  all  men.  Pious  sailors  would 
eminently  realize  this  purpose.  If  unable  to  be 
witnesses — to  proclaim  the  gospel  with  their 
lips,  they  would  yet  be  epistles — speaking  to 
the  eye  by  the  silent  eloquence  of  a  holy  useful 
life.  And  this  is  a  language  which  needs  no 
translation,  no  interpreter  ;  men  of  every  tongue 
can  understand  it ;  it  is  the  only  true  universal 
language.  In  some  instances,  indeed,  our  sai- 
lors already  answer  this  purpose  ;  "  the  Chris- 
tian natives  in  the  South  Sea  Islands  are  de- 
lighted with  the  arrival  of  a  praying  ship,  or  a 
believing  ship."  Seamen  might  often  precede 
our  missionaries,  and  prepare  the  way  for  them. 
By  the  distribution  of  bibles  and  tracts,  and  by 
the  thousand  methods  which  a  holy  ingenuity 
will  devise,  they  might  virtually  lake  possession 
of  a  heathen  land  in  the  name  of  him  who  is 
King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords,  as  they  do  of 
a  newly  discovered  land  in  the  name  of  their 
earthly  sovereign.  They  might  become  the 
pioneers,  or  the  agents,  of  the  Christian  church 
in  every  land. 

How  interesting  the  spectacle  of  a  cloud  of 
shipping  in  one  of  our  mercantile  ports,  avail- 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  77 

ing  themselves  of  the  same  tide,  and  spreading 
their  sails  to  the  same  auspicious  breeze,  to  de- 
part on  their  respective  voyages  !  For  a  short 
time,  they  all  proceed  down  channel  together  ; 
but  as  "  the  great  and  wide  sea"  expands  be- 
fore them,  they  strike  off  in  all  directions,  and 
every  day  they  diverge  wider  and  farther  from 
each  other,  till  eventually  they  are  scattered 
over  the  face  of  the  world.  "  There  go  the 
ships !" — said  the  psalmist,  when  contemplating 
the  sublime  spectacle,  and  filling  his  mind  with 
great  thoughts  of  nature  and  providence.  And 
will  not  the  church  sanctify  that  sublimity,  and 
behold  in  the  navigated  sea  a  glorious  agency 
of  grace?  "There  go  the  ships  !"  the  Chris- 
tian might  say,  as  he  stood  and  gazed  at  a  nu- 
merous fleet  diverging  and  disappearing  in  the 
distant  horizon  ; — there  go  the  ships,  laden  with 
treasures  more  precious  than  those  of  the  navy 
of  Solomon  when  freighted  with  the  ivory  and 
the  gold  of  Ophir  ;  in  one  of  them  are  tracts  ; 
in  another,  bibles  ;  in  another,  missionaries  ;  in 
all  of  them,  men,  who,  like  the  Christian  mari- 
ners of  the  Galilean  Lake,  are  "  the  messen- 
gers of  the  churches  and  the  glory  of  Christ," 
— men  of  simple,  earnest,  glowing  piety,  who 
go  to  be  "  fishers  of  men,"  in  all  nations,  kin- 
dreds, and  climes  on  the  face  of  the  earth. 
The  prayers  of  the  church  waft  them  on  their 
several  ways:  angels  convoy  them;  He  who 
brought  the  ship  of  the  disciples  safe  to  land  is 
present  with  them  ;  and  the  very  ends  of  the 
earth  shall  be  glad  for  them. 
7 


78  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS 

10.  The  example  of  our  Divine  Master  points 
our  attention  to  sailors,  with  all  the  force  of  an 
express  command.  His  marked  and  devoted 
attention  to  the  maritime  districts  of  Palestine, 
had  been  the  subject  of  early  prophecy,  Isaiah 
ix.  1,  and  when  the  prediction  was  fulfilled,  it 
was  made  the  subject  of  evangelic  history,  Matt. 
iv.  13 — 16.  "  Leaving  Nazareth,  he  came  and 
dwelt  in  Capernaum,  which  is  upon  the  sea- 
coast,  in  the  borders  of  Zabulon  and  Nephta- 
lim  :  that  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken 
by  Esaias  the  prophet,  saying,  The  land  of 
Zabulon  and  the  land  of  Nephtalim,  by  the 
way  of  the  sea,  beyond  Jordan,  Galilee  of  the 
Gentiles :  the  people  who  sat  in  darkness  saw 
great  light ;  and  to  them  who  sat  in  the  region 
and  shadow  of  death,  light  is  sprung  up."  We 
have  already  seen  that,  in  fulfilment  of  this  pro- 
phecy, our  Lord  commenced,  and  principally 
pursued,  his  ministry  on  the  sea-coasts.  There 
he  performed  his  greatest  miracles,  found  his 
largest  audiences,  and  called  most  of  his  apos- 
tles. Though  Bethlehem  was  his  birth-place  ; 
Nazareth,  the  residence  of  Joseph  and  Mary  ; 
and  Jerusalem,  the  metropolis  of  the  land  ;  yet 
Capernaum,  a  sea-port,*  was  his  adopted,  "  his 
own  city."  The  synagogue  was  the  appointed 

*  The  inhabitants  of  Palestine  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Lake  still  call  it  by  its  ancient  and  scriptural  name, 
the  sea.  In  conformity  with  this  usage,  Capernaum  is 
sometimes  spoken  of  as  a  sea-port ;  though,  perhaps, 
the  more  appropriate  appellation  would  be  a  fishing 
town. 


IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  79 

place  for  religious  instruction,  but  he  went  to 
the  beach  to  proclaim  the  kingdom  of  God. 
The  beach  was  crowded,  for  "  the  people  press- 
ed on  him  to  hear  the  word  of  God,"  "  so  he 
went  into  a  ship  and  the  whole  multitude  stood 
on  the  shore.  And  he  spake  many  things  unto 
them  in  parables."  Here  we  see  the  Saviour 
having  recourse  to  extraordinary  methods  for 
the  good  of  the  maritime  class  ;  and  has  he  not 
in  this,  as  in  every  other  respect,  left  us  an  ex- 
ample that  we  should  walk  in  his  steps?  Shall 
he  walk  forth  to  the  sea-side,  as  if  he  would 
show  us  the  way  to  this  destitute  class,  and 
shall  we  leave  him  to  walk  there  alone,  while 
we  sit  still  in  the  house?  Shall  he  consecrate 
the  quay,  the  strand,  the  deck  of  the  ship,  by 
his  sacred  presence,  and  personal  activity,  and 
shall  not  we  enter  in  and  endeavor  to  fill  these 
spheres  of  usefulness,  in  his  name,  and  to  his 
glory  ? 

11.  But  the  motives  which  should  urge  us  to 
cultivate  the  improvement  of  our  seamen  are 
endless.  Ordinary  consistency  requires  it.  We 
are  concerned  for  the  welfare  of  every  other 
class  of  our  countrymen  ;  we  are  sending  the 
gospel  to  the  people  of  every  other  land  ;  shall 
the  men  to  whom  we  must  be  indebted  for  con- 
veying it,  be  the  only  class  comparatively  dis- 
regarded ?  And  the  voice  of  prophecy  calls  for 
find  encourages  it :  for  "  the  abundance  of  the 

sea  shall   be  converted  unto  thee Surely, 

the  isles  shall  wait  for  me,  and  the  ships  of 
Tarshish  first,  to  bring  thy  sons  from  far,  their 


80  IMPROVEMENT  OF  OUR  SEAMEN. 

silver  and  their  gold  with  them,  unto  the  name 
of  the  Lord  thy  God."  And  even  "the  mer- 
chandise of  Tyre  shall  be  holiness  to  the  Lord." 
Every  description  of  maritime  agency  shall  be 
consecrated  and  made  subservient  to  the  uni- 
versal extension  of  the  Divine  empire. 


Z  E  B  U  L  O  N. 


PART    THE    THIRD. 


7* 


PART    THE    THIRD. 


THE  MEANS  BY  WHICH  THE  CONDITION  OP  OUR  SEAMEN  MIGHT 
BE  IMPROVED. 


HAVING  sketched  "  the  present  condition  of 
our  seafaring  population  ;"  and  enforced  "  the 
duty  of  the  public  in  general,  and  of  all  Chris- 
tians in  particular,  to  promote  their  moral  and 
religious  improvement ;"  it  now  remains  that 
the  writer  should  specify  what  he  considers  "the 
best  means  by  which  this  object  may  be  ac- 
complished." 

U  is  a  distinguishing  feature  of  Christian 
benevolence,  that,  while  it  aims  chiefly  at  the 
highest  good  of  man,  it  bestows  a  proportionate 
regard  on  all  his  inferior  interests ;  resembling, 
in  this  respect,  its  Divine  Examplar,  who,  in 
his  way  to  the  cross  to  save  a  world,  often  stood 
still  to  heal  the  diseased  and  relieve  the  wretch- 
ed. And  so  closely  are  the  temporal  and  spi- 
ritual welfare  of  mankind  united  in  principle 
and  in  fact,  that  whichever  we  begin  with  first, 
we  are  certainly  preparing  the  way  for  the  other, 


84  THE  MEANS  OF  IMPROVING 

and  should  be  provided  with  the  means  of  seiz- 
ing and  promoting  it  as  soon  as  it  begins  to  ap- 
pear. If  we  commence  with  his  temporal  wel- 
fare, and  are  the  means  of  raising  him  out  of  a 
state  of  social  debasement,  to  cleanliness,  indus- 
try, and  self-respect,  we  have,  in  effect,  led  him 
up  the  steps  of  the  Christian  temple,  brought 
him  to  its  very  threshold,  and,  in  the  hope  that 
he  may  be  induced  to  enter,  a  place  should  be 
prepared  and  awaiting  him  within.  If,  on  the 
other  hand,  we  begin  with  his  spiritual  welfare, 
we  cannot  instrurnentally  succeed  in  restoring 
him  to  God,  without,  at  the  same  time,  restor- 
ing him  to  himself  and  to  society,  raising  him 
in  the  scale  of  moral  and  social  worth,  convert- 
ing his  habits  of  idleness  and  improvidence  into 
industry  and  economy  ;  and  thus  proving  that 
godliness  is  profitable  for  the  life  that  now  is, 
as  well  as  for  the  life  that  is  to  come.  And,  in 
the  prospect  of  his  social  improvement,  we 
should  be  provided  with  helps  and  institutions 
for  the  aid  and  development  of  his  new-found 
powers. 

1.  In  devising  liberal  things  for  our  seamen, 
then,  let  us  begin  with  the  lowest  form  of  their 
exigency — a  state  of  sickness.  As  it  was  the 
peculiar  glory  of  Christ  that  he  "  took  our  infir- 
mities and  bare  our  sicknesses,"  so  the  erection 
of  hospitals  and  infirmaries  for  the  indigent  and 
helpless  sick — a  thing  totally  unknown  to  pa- 
ganism— seems  to  have  been  reserved  for  the 
benevolence  of  his  followers. 

The  writer  is  far  from  advocating  that  blind 


THE  CONDITION  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  85 

and  miscalculating  charity,  which,  by  render- 
ing foresight  on  the  part  of  the  lower  classes 
unnecessary,  makes  them  improvident,  and  aug- 
ments the  evil  which  it  was  meant  to  relieve. 
But,  in  many  instances,  the  earnings  of  the  par- 
ticular class  in  question  are  but  barely  sufficient 
for  the  sustenance  of  life  on  its  lowest  terms  ; 
or,  a  want  of  employment  has  made  saving  im- 
possible ;  or,  if  actual  extravagance  has  reduced 
the  patient  to  indigence,  we  should  remember 
that  the  improvidence  of  the  class  is,  in  a  great 
measure,  owing  to  our  own  culpable  neglect ; 
and  until  the  evils  of  that  neglect  be  remedied, 
we  should  hold  ourselves  bound  to  provide  for 
the  consequences. 

Perhaps,  to  no  part  of  the  sailor's  wants  has 
more  efficient  aid  been  rendered  than  to  his 
wants  in  sickness.  Still,  however,  it  will  re- 
main to  be  considered,  first,  whether  this  pro- 
vision is  adequate ;  second,  whether  these  ex- 
cellent charities  afford  sufficient  facilities  for 
the  admission  of  the  sick  ;  and,  third,  whether 
they  secure  a  course  of  wholesome  religious  in- 
struction. On  the  last  of  these  particulars,  the 
Christian  philanthropist  will  naturally  lay  con- 
siderable stress  ;  remembering  that  it  relates  to 
a  situation  highly  favourable  to  the  reception  of 
the  gospel. 

2.  The  next  great  desideratum  is,  the  estab- 
lishment of  comfortable  and  respectable  board- 
ing-houses, in  our  maritime  cities,  for  the  re- 
ception of  sailors  immediately  on  landing.  A 
few  such  already  exist.  But  a  vast  number  are 


86  THE  MEANS  OF  IMPROVING 

quite  the  reverse,  and  are  the  cause  of  great 
public  detriment.  It  is  very  desirable  that 
there  should  be  some  systematic  provision  for 
the  protection  of  sailors,  so  as  to  give  them  a 
fair  chance  of  becoming  prudent,  by  having 
facilities  afforded  them  for  escaping  bad  com- 
pany, and  for  placing  in  safety  such  part  of  their 
wages  as  they  would  not  wish  to  spend."  The 
moment  of  their  landing  from  a  voyage  is  often 
the  crisis  of  their  fate.  Having  no  home,  no 
refuge,  open  to  receive  them,  and  being  quite 
indifferent  as  to  the  particular  direction  they 
take.they  allow  themselves  to  be  led,  like  victims, 
to  debasement  and  ruin.  But  were  Benevolence 
as  active  in  its  movements,  and  as  assiduous  in 
its  attentions,  as  Avarice  and  Temptation, — 
were  it  to  prepare  for  them  a  home,  and,  cordi- 
ally taking  them  by  the  hand,  to  lead  them  into 
it,  how  many  a  victim  might  be  snatched  from 
the  jaws  of  destruction  !  And  the  expedient 
would  soon  support  itself.  Only  let  respectable 
persons  establish  such  places  ;  and  let  all  the 
arrangements  be  made  with  as  little  sensible 
restraint,  and  as  studied  a  conformity  to  the 
general  habits  and  peculiar  tastes  of  sailors  as 
a  sound  morality  will  permit, — let  this  be  done, 
and  it  would  be  a  libel,  not  only  on  the  class, 
but  on  common  sense,  to  suppose  that  it  would 
not  succeed,  and  be  productive  of  the  happiest 
results  on  their  morals. 

3.  "  A  public  duty  towards  sailors  will  be 
left  unperformed,  so  long  as  savings'  banks  are 
not  opened  in  all  our  sea-ports  for  their  exclu- 


THE  CONDITION  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  87 

sive  benefit."  When  the  writer  had  mentally 
sketched  a  plan  for  the  improvement  of  seamen, 
of  which  savings'  banks  formed  a  part,  he  was 
not  a  little  gratified  at  unexpectedly  meeting 
with  the  concurring  testimony  of  Mr.  Hutchin- 
son,  in  favour  of  their  adoption.  This  gentle- 
man is  actuary  to  the  London  Provident  Insti- 
tution. He  informed  me  that  he  had  some 
time  since  sketched  the  plan  of  a  seaman's  sav- 
ings' bank and,  at  my  desire  he  has  fur- 
nished rue  with  a  few  observations,  which  I  shall 
make  the  ground-work  of  the  following  remarks, 
in  many  instances  using  his  own  words. 

"  Of  all  the  plans  devised  for  bettering  the 
condition  of  the  labouring  classes,  not  one  has 
so  successfully  promoted  that  object  as  the 

establishment  of  savings'    banks The 

seamen  frequenting  our  ports  make  little  use  of 
the  savings'  banks  now  existing,  except  those 
designed  for  their  use.  They  are  not  in  any 
particular  manner  brought  to  their  notice.  The 
rules  and  regulations  have  no  particular  relation 
to  their  peculiar  exigencies  and  way  of  life.  .  . 
.  .  It  is  a  mistake  to  suppose  that  seamen  are 
naturally  more  improvident  than  landsmen ; 
they  are  made  so  by  the  circumstance  of  receiv- 
ing their  wages  in  accumulated  sums  ;  and  other 
men  in  the  same  rank  of  life,  when  exposed  to 
the  like  temptation,  seldom  resist  to  a  greater 
extent,  except  in  so  far  as  they  are  not  equally 

beset  with  villany But  this  failing  is  not 

an  incurable  one,  if  all  possible  allurements  and 
facilities  were  afforded  to  habits  of  saving.  And 


88  THE  MEANS  OF  IMPROVING 

the  sailor  has  then  an  advantage  over  all  other 
classes  of  labourers,  in  that,  whilst  he  is  earn- 
ing his  wages,  he  has  not  only  no  temptation  to 
waste  them,  but  he  has  seldom  the  possibility. 
Once  instil  into  a  seaman  a  desire  for  accumu- 
lation, and  it  is  easier  to  him  than  to  any  other 
individual ;  he  puts  a  lump  in  store,  and  on  his 
return  finds  it  not  only  safe,  but  increased. 
He  has  the  means  in  his  hands  to  double 
it.  Is  he  not  likely  to  apply  them  so,  and  to 
go  to  sea  again  as  soon,  and  a  better  sailor, 
than  the  spendthrift  ?  A  desire  of  saving  hav- 
ing once  taken  root  in  a  sailor's  mind,  it  has 
more  time  and  opportunity  to  grow  there  than 
under  any  other  circumstances  ;  and  as  a  cer- 
tain similarity  of  habits  must  ever  characterize 
the  class,  a  partial  change  for  the  better  would 
most  probably  lead  to  an  universal  one. 

"  The  establishment  of  a  savings'  bank  in  a 
central  situation,  and  under  rules  and  regula- 
tions having  solely  in  view  the  habits  and  con- 
venience of  the  class,  would  in  all  probability 
confer  invaluable  benefits  upon  them,  if  patroni- 
zed and  supported  by  the  shipping  interest. 
Here  the  produce  of  their  labour  might  be  safe- 
ly housed  until  wanted  for  beneficial  purposes, 
instead  of  being  dissipated  in  profligacy  and 
folly,  or  made  a  prey  to  others.  What  a  bene- 
fit it  would  be  to  a  sailor  to  have  his  wages 
placed  in  security,  if  only  till,  upon  getting 
another  ship,  he  might  be  enabled  to  purchase 
his  outfit  with  his  own  money,  instead  of  being 
driven  to  procure  it  on  the  most  extortionate 


THE  CONDITION  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  89 

terms  !  But  if  a  permanent  habit  of  saving 
could  be  produced,  it  would,  by  raising  him  in 
his  own  estimation,  make  him  a  more  valuable 
servant,  and  eventually  be  productive  of  great 
national  benefit.  Experience  has  shown,  that 
when  a  depositor  in  a  savings'  bank  has  suc- 
ceeded in  accumulating  a  few  pounds,  a  most 
extraordinary  stimulus  is  frequently  given  to  the 
formation  of  habits  of  industry  and  economy, 
and  every  nerve  appears  to  be  strained  to  in- 
crease his  fund.  At  the  same  time,  the  very 
bearing  and  manner  of  the  individual  is  alter- 
ed, and  he  seems  to  have  acquired  a  proper 
feeling  of  self-respect,  the  spread  of  which  must 
produce  the  most  beneficial  results  to  society 
at  large.  The  American  sailor  has  many  noble 
qualities,  which,  as  is  often  visible,  make  him 
the  more  keenly  feel  the  debasement  of  some 
of  his  habits,  arid  which  would  doubtless  induce 
him  to  enter  more  willingly  into  any  better 
course  that  might  be  opened  to  him.  There 
seems  to  be  no  mode  of  offering  him  a  better 
course,  in  principle  so  sound,  or  in  operation 
so  easy,  as  by  the  establishment  of  a  savings' 
bank,  having  for  its  sole  object  the  encourage- 
ment of  provident  habits  among  the  seafaring 
class,  by  afford  ing  them  every  possible  facility 
to  place  whatever  part  of  their  hard  earnings 
they  may  have  to  spare,  out  of  the  reach  of 
imposition  and  robbery,  for  their  own  benefit 
and  for  that  of  their  families. 

"  The   principal  objects  to  be    aimed  at  in 
such  an  institution  would  be,  1.  To  establish 


90  THE  MEANS  OF  IMPROVING 

it  in  the  most  central  situation  ;  to  have  it  open 
at  the  hours  most  suitable  to  the  convenience 
of  seafaring  men  ;  and  to  have  in  attendance 
persons  familiar  with  their  habits  and  humours. 
2.  To  afford  every  proper  facility  both  in  in- 
vesting and  withdrawing  deposits  ;  so  as  to  hold 
out  the  greatest  inducement  to  invest,  and  at 
the  same  time  to  meet  the  sudden  exigencies 
of  sailors  wanting  money  for  their  outfit,  or 
any  other  necessary  purpose.  3.  To  afford 
facilities  for  making  provision  for  seamen's 
families  during  their  absence,  at  sea.  4.  To 
receive  the  wages  of  sailors  on  their  behalf 
from  their  employers.  5.  When  desired,  to 
purchase  annuities  for  seamen,  and  to  invest 
their  money  in  the  funds  when  exceeding  the 
amount  allowed  by  law  to  be  in  the  savings' 
bank.  6.  To  keep  a  register  of  depositors 
wanting  ships,  for  the  purpose  of  being  refer- 
red to  by  ship-owners  wanting  steady  men.  7. 
To  provide  for  distributing  savings,  and  receiv- 
ing wages,  in  case  of  death.  8.  To  act  in 
every  way  as  the  stewards  and  friends  of  the 
depositors.  9.  To  apply  to  the  State  Legisla- 
tures for  whatever  increased  powers  might  be 
necessary  to  promote  the  above  ends. 

"  American  seameu  do  not  stand  in  need 
of  charity,  but  justice  ;  and  I  hope  to  see  their 
cause  meet  with  the  highest  patronage,  and 
the  most  extensive  support,  and  I  have  no 
doubt  it  will  be  so,  if  once  taken  up  by  those 
competent  to  ensure  its  success.  I  should  like 
to  see  a  public  meeting  called  by  influential 


THE  CONDITION  OP  OUR  SEAMEN.  91 

men,  and  a  subscription  opened,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  carrying  this  object  into  effect.  .  .  '.  . 
It  is,  in  my  opinion,  a  very  strong  argument 
in  favour  of  the  establishment  of  a  savings' 
bank  for  seamen  on  an  efficient  and  extensive 
plan,  that  while  it  would  powerfully  contribute 
to  rescue  the  improvident  from  the  evils  with 
which  they  are  surrounded,  it  would  at  the 
same  time  afford  facilities  to  the  efforts  of  the 
well-conducted,  especially  in  the  beginning  of 
their  career,  which  under  no  other  system 
could  they  so  certainly  enjoy.  And  it  might 
lay  the  foundation  of  an  entire  change  of  ha- 
bit in  respect  to  prudence  among  the  whole 

class  of  seamen My  view  of  such  an 

institution  is,  that  after  being  well  started,  and 
complete  in  all  its  appointments,  it  should  be 
made  to  pay  its  own  expenses,  and  that  it 
should  not  be  artificially  and  precariously  main- 
tained by  external  aid.  I  would  have  a  gen- 
eral superintendence  by  influential  men,  and 
all  the  re*t  matter  of  business.  As  I  said  be- 
fore, American  seamen  do  not  want  charity, 
but  justice  ;  and  I  should  consider  any  effort 
now  made  in  their  behalf,  only  as  the  payment 
of  a  debt  due  to  them  for  past  ill-treatment  and 
neglect." 

4.  In  connexion  with  the  savings'  bank,  a 
register  should  be  kept  of  depositors  wanting 
ships,  for  the  purpose  of  being  referred  to  by 
ship-owners  wanting  steady  men.  This  sug- 
gestion, indeed,  forms  a  part  of  the  preceding 
plan.  But  it  seems  so  important  as  to  deserve 


92  THE  MEANS  OF  IMPROVING 

distinct  consideration.  For  only  let  it  once  be- 
come generally  known  that  the  owners  of  ships 
consult  this  register  for  men,  and  the  circum- 
stance would  operate  as  a  powerful  recommen- 
dation to  seamen  in  favor  of  the  savings'  bank  ; 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  their  connexion  with 
the  bank  would  furnish  a  presumptive  guaran- 
tee for  the  sobriety,  providence,  and  general 
steadiness  of  its  depositors.  They  would  mu- 
tually recommend  each  other.  And,  what  is 
best  of  all — a  demand  for  character  would  be 
created  and  proclaimed,  which  could  not  fail  to 
act  beneficially  on  the  whole  class. 

5.  The  establishment  of  Sailors'  Temperance 
Societies  is  obvious  and  indispensable.  That 
the  promotion  of  temperance  among  seamen  is 
necessary,  we  know,  for  intemperance  is  the 
sailor's  besetting  sin,  and  it  is  made  by  others 
the  occasion  of  his  robbery  and  ruin.  That  it 
is  practicable  is  evident,  for  it  has  been  tried 
with  success  in  the  majority  of  American  ships. 

But,  in  order  that  the  effort  may  be  made 
with  the  greatest  likelihood  of  success,  it  seems 
desirable  that  Temperance  Societies  should  be 
established  for  seamen  exclusively.  By  this 
means,  not  only  would  the  objection  which  the 
sailor  feels  to  standing  on  the  same  footing  with 
landsmen  in  this  particular,  be  successfully 
met ;  but  he  would  feel  that  the  Society  was  in 
a  sense  A  is  own ;  and  would  also  acquire  the 
idea  that  the  public  takes  a  kind  interest  in  his 
special  welfare.  The  rules  and  regulations 
should  be  prepared  directly  with  a  view  to  their 


THE  CONDITION  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  93 

habits  and  interests.  And  the  tracts  intended 
for  circulation  on  the  subject,  should  be  ex- 
pressly adapted  arid  addressed  to  the  seafaring 
class.  What  incalculable  benefits  might  thus 
be  conferred  on  this  deserving  section  of  the 
community  ! — and  never  should  it  be  forgotten, 
that  by  benefitting  any  single  class  of  society, 
the  whole  community  reaps  the  advantage. 
What  a  fruitful  source  of  guilt  and  misery 
would  thus  be  dried  up  !  for  drunkenness  is  the 
most  fertile  parent  of  crime.  How  greatly  would 
the  security  of  maritime  life  and  property  be  in- 
creased !*  for  drunkenness  has  occasioned  many 
of  the  most  fatal  disasters  at  sea ;  so  that,  in 
this  point  of  view,  a  Sailors'  Temperance  So- 
ciety would  be,  in  effect,  a  public  safety  society. 
6.  iiut  if  the  sailor  is  io  be  kept  from  the 
public-house,  a  place  must  be  provided  where 
he  can  pleasantly  and  profitably  spend  his  lei- 

*  What  stronger  proof  can  be  afforded  of  this,  than 
the  remarkable  fact  that  the  different  marine  insurance 
companies  in  the  city  of  New  York  have  resolved  that 
they  will  allow  a  deduction  of  five  per  cent,  on  the  net 
premiums  which  may  be  taken  after  this  date,  on  all 
vessels  terminating  their  voyage  without  loss  of  life, 
provided  the  master  and  mate  make  affidavit,  after  the 
termination  of  the  risk,  that  no  ardent  spirits  had  been 
drunk  on  board  the  vessel  by  the  officers  and  crew  dur- 
ing the  voyage  or  term  for  which  the  vessel  was  in- 
sured !  Shortly  after  this,  the  Baltimore  Insurance 
Company,  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  passed  a  similar 
resolution.  The  Virginia  Marine  Insurance  Company 
at  Richmond  have  adopted  the  same  rule ;  arid  it  is  be- 
lieved that  several  of  the  insurance  companies  in  Boa- 
ton  have  acted  on  a  similar  plan  for  some  years. 

8* 


94  THE  MEANS  OP  IMPROVING 

sure  instead.  This  might  be  advantageously 
done  by  the  establishment  of  a  Sailors'  Insti- 
tute. Why  might  there  not  be  a  Sailors',  as 
well  as  a  Mechanics'  Institute;  where  popular 
instruction  should  be  given  on  the  many  sub- 
jects connected  with  a  seaman's  occupation, 
and  where  he  might  lay  in  stores  of  useful 
knowledge  for  pleasure  and  benefit,  whether  at 
sea,  or  on  shore  ?  A  sailor  frequently  remains 
many  weeks  in  port ;  either,  when  paid  off,  he 
waits  for  another  ship,  or  whilst  the  one  to 
which  he  belongs  clears  out  her  cargo.  During 
these  weeks  he  has  necessarily  much  leisure, 
and  were  he  comfortably  lodged,  and  his  money 
at  rest  in  a  savings'  bank,  he  might  find  in- 
struction and  profitable  amusement  at  his  Insti- 
tute, and  from  a  lending  library  that  might  be 
attached  to  -it.  He  would,  consequently,  be 
less  exposed  to  drunkenness  and  disease,  and 
the  knowledge  gained  would  make  him  neither 
less  useful  nor  less  happy.  Assuredly  he  would 
not  feel  less  attached  to  the  country  which  had 
shown  so  much  interest  in  his  comfort  and  wel- 
fare. 

A  naval  museum  would  form  a  very  natural 
appendage  ;  this,  besides  furnishing  the  mind 
with  amusement  while  on  shore,  might  be  the 
means  of  exciting  a  spirit  of  inquiry,  creating  a 
thirst  for  information,  and  awakening  a  desire 
to  be  the  means  of  enriching  the  collection. 
Suitable  persons  should  be  appointed  or  per- 
mitted to  lecture,  and  instruction  in  other  forms 
be  given,  on  "  the  many  subjects  connected 


THE  CONDITION  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  95 

with  a  seaman's  occupation  ;"  and  the  whole 
should  be  placed  under  a  wise  religious  superin- 
tendence. 

7.    In  connexion,  either  with  the  sailors'  in- 
stitute, or  with  the  savings'  bank,  or  with  both, 
— for  these  two  objects  might  be   beneficially 
united  together, — the  writer  would  suggest  the 
establishment  of  a  society  for  the  distribution 
of  honorary  rewards  to  steady  and  deserving 
seamen.     It  is  well  known  that  societies  of  this 
kind  exist  in  many  of  our  agricultural  districts; 
and,  wherever  they  exist,  they  are,  and  must 
be,  productive  of  good.     Equal  scope  for  their 
beneficial  operation  exists  among  our  maritime 
population.     Their  claim  to  reward   might  be 
made  to  depend  on  the  way  in  which  (if  mar- 
ried) they  have  supported  and  brought  up  their 
families ;  the  length  of  time  they  have  gone  in 
the  same  ships  ;  their  sobriety,  economy,  regu- 
larity of  attendance  on  the  means  of  improve- 
ment on  shore  ;  and  on  their  general  good  be- 
haviour on  board.     And  their  claim  to  reward, 
on  these  grounds,   might  be  ascertained   by  a 
reference  to  the  parochial  register,  to  the  list  of 
the  savings'  bank  depositors,  of  the  temperance 
society's  members,  of  the  sailors'  institute's  mem- 
bers, and  by  the  testimony  of  the  captains  with 
whom  they  have  sailed,  either  oral,  or  by  cer- 
tificate. 

8.  Ascending  into  the  higher  region  of  reli- 
gious improvement,  the  writer  is  constrained  to 
admire  the  wisdom,  the  variety,  and  (consider- 
ing the  limited  resources  devoted  to  the  object) 


96  THE  MEANS  OF  IMPROVING 

the  extent  of  the  means  already  in  operation 
for  the  evangelization  of  our  seamen.  The 
Bible  is  distributed.  Libraries,  containing  ap- 
proved religious  works,  are  lent  to  ships  about 
to  sail.  Religious  tracts  are  circulated.  Sun- 
day-schools exist  for  the  religious  instruction  of 
sailors'  children.  Prayer-meetings  are  held  at 
appointed  stations  on  board,  at  which  sailors 
are  invited  to  attend.  Domestic  and  foreign 
agencies  are  employed  for  the  diffusion  of  these 
benefits  to  the  greatest  extent  which  existing 
resources  allow.  And — that  which  is  the  grand 
method  of  religious  usefulness  appointed  by 
Christ  himself  for  every  creature  under  heaven, 
— and  the  great  method  which  he  himself  pur- 
sued for  benefiting  the  fishermen  and  sailors  of 
Judea — the  gospel  is  proclaimed.  On  this  me- 
thod, therefore,  our  hopes  should  rest  as  the 
principal  mode  of  religiously  benefiting  the  pre- 
sent generation  of  the  sailors  of  our  country. 

Now  all  these  means  of  religious  usefulness 
so  strongly  commend  themselves  to  every  en- 
lightened mind,  that  were  either  of  them  yet 
untried,  it  ought  to  be  put  into  operation  to- 
morrow. Our  only  regret  concerning  them  is, 
that,  owing  to  the  want  of  pecuniary  resources, 
the  application  of  them,  at  present,  should  be 
so  extremely  limited.  Whatever  methods  of 
usefulness  we  may  be  prepared  to  suggest  in 
addition,  we  can  only  deplore  that  these  means 
should  be  comparatively  languishing  for  want 
of  pecuniary  support.  Let  us  hope  that  when 
the  public  attention  shall  be  duly  called  to  the 


THE  CONDITION  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  97 

condition  and  claims  of  our  seamen,  funds  will 
be  provided  for  carrying  those  means  into  effect, 
on  a  scale  commensurate  with  their  excellence, 
and  with  the  crying  need  which  exists  for  them. 

9.  In  the  hope,  and  with  the  full  persuasion, 
that  such  will  be  the  case,  the  writer  would 
suggest  the  establishment  of  Normal  Schools  to 
qualify  sailors  for  promoting  the  religious  im- 
provement of  their  shipmates  on  board.  The 
chief  recommendation  of  this  plan  in  his  own 
view  is,  that  it  promises  to  carry  out  the  exist- 
ing plans  of  religious  usefulness,  already  refer- 
red to,  into  more  efficacious  effect.  Why  should 
the  period  of  the  sailor's  improvement  be  stint- 
ed to  the  time  of  his  continuance  in  port  ?  es- 
pecially, as  the  time  which  some  ships  are  at 
sea,  exceeds  the  time  in  which  they  are  at  an- 
chor. And  why  should  his  improvement  be 
left  during  this  long  period  to  the  uncertainty 
of  his  taking  a  book  from  the  loan  library  on 
board  ?  Through  the  want  of  some  such  in- 
strumentality as  that  suggested,  it  is  to  be  fear- 
ed that  much  incipient  good,  commenced  on 
shore,  is  lost  at  sea  ;  and  that  many  a  religious 
impression  is  as  completely  effaced  between 
port  and  port,  as  the  trace  of  his  keel  in  the 
wave — impressions  which  only  required  a  kind 
and  watchful  eye,  to  lead,  through  divine  influ- 
ence, to  his  permanent  conversion  to  God. 

In  order  to  remedy  this  evil,  and  to  carry  out 
existing  plans  of  improvement,  the  writer  sub- 
mits that  a  number  of  sailors  whose  piety,  zeal, 
and  general  qualifications,  render  them  eligible, 


98  THE  MEANS  OF  IMPROVING 

should  receive  such  instruction  as  would  be 
likely  to  render  them  religiously  useful  to  their 
shipmates  while  at  sea.  Were  such  men  pro- 
vided, the  probability  is,  that  tHe  respectability 
of  their  character  and  derneanor,  would  easily 
procure  them  berths  ;  especially  on  board  such 
vessels  as  allow  Bethel  meetings  to  be  held  in 
them.  In  addition  to  which,  it  would  be  the 
duty  of  the  Society  which  trained  them,  to  in- 
terest itself,  by  recommendation  and  otherwise, 
in  procuring  them  berths.  It  is  likely,  how- 
ever, that  when  it  became  generally  known  that 
such  a  class  of  men  existed,  such  recommenda- 
tions would  be  quite  unnecessary  ;  that  they 
would  be  sought  after  as  trustworthy  and  supe- 
rior men  ;  and  that  many  a  ship-owner  and  cap- 
tain would  deem  it  their  interest  to  procure  and 
prefer  them. 

Without  at  all  interfering  with  the  ordinary 
duties  of  his  station  on  board,  an  individual  of 
this  class  should  consider  himself  as  the  repre- 
sentative and  servant  of  the  Christian  Society 
which  had  assisted  to  prepare  him.  In  this 
capacity,  it  should  devolve  on  him  to  carry  on 
instruction  in  reading  of  any  of  the  boys  or  men 
who  had  been  learning  on  shore  ;  to  seize  every 
prudent  opportunity  for  reading  the  Scriptures 
and  religious  books  to  such  of  the  crew  as  were 
disposed  to  listen  ;  to  read  or  offer  up  prayer,  if 
allowed  by  the  captain  to  do  so ;  to  superintend 
and  circulate  the  books  of  the  loan  library  ; 
and,  on  arriving  in  provincial  or  foreign  ports, 
to  communicate  immediately  with  the  agents  of 


THE  CONDITION  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  99 

the  Society  stationed  there,  that  no  time  might 
be  lost  in  holding  Bethel  and  other  meetings  on 
board.     But   the   ways   in   which  such   a  man 
might  promote  the  objects  of  a  religious  society, 
exceed  enumeration.    Religious  impressions  re- 
ceived on  shore,  would,  by  his  instrumentality, 
be  saved  from  dissipation  ;  and  the  crew  would 
feel   that,  though   absent  from  port,  they  were 
still  in  the  presence  of  an  agency  expressly  em- 
ployed for  their  welfare  ;  and   the   Society  em- 
ploying him  would  feel  that  though  the  objects 
of  their  solicitude  were  "  afar  off  upon  the  sea," 
a  man  of  God,  and  a  servant  of  their  own,   was 
still  with  them.     His  character  would  necessa- 
rily invest  him  with  influence  both  in   the  eyes 
of  his  captain  and  his  shipmates  ;  as  far  as  that 
influence  could   be  prudently  exerted  he  would 
naturally  employ  it  to  obtain,  as  his  companions 
on  board,  men  like-minded  with  himself;  thus 
he  would  obtain   the    means  of  holding  occa- 
sional prayer-meetings  at  sea,  and  the  ship  be 
converted   into  a    Christian  church.      Besides 
which,   a  powerful  Christian  agency  would,  in 
this  way,   be   raised   up   and  put   into  motion, 
from  among  the  sailors  themselves.     And  if  the 
writer  mistake  not,  the  time  is  not  far  distant, 
when  all  our  great  religious  societies  which  aim 
at  the  propagation  of  the  gospel,  will   find,  that 
the  most  speedy   and  effectual   method  of  ac- 
complishing their  object  is,  to  raise  up  an  agen- 
cy from   among  the  nation  or  the   class  which 
they  seek  to  benefit,  and  to  employ  that  agency  for 
the  purpose.   At  all  events,  were  such  an  agency 


100  THE  MEANS  OF  IMPROVING 

raised  up  from  among  the  maritime  class,  the 
energy  and  zeal  peculiar  to  the  character  of 
that  body  warrant  the  persuasion  that,  under 
God's  blessing,  the  evangelization  of  the  entire 
class  would  certainly  follow. 

10.  In  the  mean  time,  the  writer  would  urge 
the  importance  of  seeing  that  each  sailor,  on 
his  departure  from  port,  be  in  possession  of  a 
copy  of  the  word  of  God.  Let  the  last  question 
put  to  him  be,  "  Have  you  a  Bible  ?"  And  let 
the  question  be  repeated  every  time  he  departs  ; 
for,  though  he  may  have  had  one  formerly,  he 
may  not  have  it  now.  The  question  would 
have  the  effect,  at  least,  of  convincing  the  sailor 
of  the  great  importance  which  the  inquirer  at- 
tached to  his  possessing  that  sacred  treasure, 
and  might  thus  be  the  means  of  recalling  the 
Bible  to  his  memory  under  circumstances  the 
most  favorable  to  the  perusal  and  reception  of 
its  truths. 

The  ship  Argo — says  heathen  mythology — 
was  built  of  the  oaks  of  the  sacred  groves  of 
Dodona,  which  were  endowed  with  the  gift  of 
prophecy.  The  consequence  was,  that  the 
beams  of  the  vessel  gave  forth  oracles  to  the 
adventurous  Argonauts,  and  saved  them  from 
many  an  approaching  calamity.  Give  the  Bible 
to  the  seaman,  and  the  heathen  fable  will  be- 
come Christian  fact.  From  his  cabin,  his  berth, 
his  chest,  his  hammock,  it  will  send  forth  its 
living  oracles — warn  him  of  dangers  more  fatal 
than  those  which  attended  the  recovery  of  the 


THE  CONDITION  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.          101 

golden  fleece,  and  cause  him  to  hear  "  words 
whereby  he  rnay  be  saved." 

11.  Incalculable  good  would  certainly  result 
from  the  adoption  of  the  preceding  plans.  But, 
while  the  writer  would  not  allow  a  moment  to 
be  lost  in  carrying  them  into  effect ;  while  he 
feels  that,  were  the  seafaring  class  to  end  with 
the  present  generation  of  sailors,  the  Christian 
public  could  not  possibly  do  enough  to  atone 
for  its  past  neglect  of  them,  even  though  it 
should  begin  with  all  these  plans  to-morrow ; 
yet  he  confesses  that  his  hopes  are  chiefly  fixed 
on  a  new  generation  of  that  class.  With  this 
impression,  he  would  urge  immediate  and  es- 
pecial attention  to  the  religious  education  of 
sailors'  children. 

Infant  schools,  designed  expressly  for  them, 
and  conducted  on  Christian  principles,  deserve 
particular  attention.  These  excellent  institu- 
tions, by  taking  the  little  ones  from  scenes  of 
negligence  arid  disorder  during  the  greater  part 
of  the  day,  and  accustoming  them  from  their 
earliest  age  to  the  superior  comforts  of  cleanli- 
ness, order,  and  cheerful  sobriety,  would  be  the 
means  of  imparting,  in  numerous  instances,  a 
taste  for  the  pleasures  of  morality  and  religion, 
never  to  be  lost.  And  even  where  the  amount 
of  benefit  fell  short  of  this  desirable  point,  a 
witness  would  be  left  in  the  bosom  of  all  who 
had  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  such  schools, 
which  would  always  be  ready  to  give  its  testi- 
mony on  the  side  of  morality  and  religion. 
Other  schools  should  be  ready  to  receive  them 
9 


102  THE  MEANS  OP  IMPROVING 

from  the  hand  of  the  Infant  school  ;  to  train 
them  up  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  in  the  knowl- 
edge necessary  to  their  calling,  till  they  went 
to  sea  ;  and  to  assist  them  in  procuring  the  situ- 
ations necessary.  The  rising  race  of  the  mari- 
time class  would  thus  be  secured,  as  by  an  em- 
bankment, against  the  overflowing  depravity  of 
the  present  generation,  and  a  foundation  be  laid 
for  a  new  class  of  seamen  of  a  superior  charac- 
ter. 

12.  The  writer  has  but  one  plan  more  to 
propose  ;  and  the  object  of  that  will  be  to  carry 
the  preceding  plans  into  effect. 

But  before  he  proceeds  to  state  it,  he  may  be 
allowed  to  say  a  word  concerning  that  which 
alone  can  entitle  them  to  consideration — their 
practicability  and  suitableness. 

In  the  outline  we  have  sketched,  we  have  re- 
ceived the  sailor,  in  sickness,  and  conveyed 
him  to  a  hospital,  where  his  moral  as  well  as 
his  bodily  malady  shall  receive  the  necessary 
attention.  In  health,  we  have  received  him 
from  his  ship,  and  led  him  direct  to  a  comforta- 
ble and  respectable  boarding-house,  provided 
expressly  for  his  reception.  We  have  placed 
his  money  in  security;  where,  instead  of  being 
"  wasted  in  riotous  living,"  he  has  the  comfort 
of  knowing  that  it  is  safe,  and  increasing.  We 
have  encouraged  him  to  add  to  his  economy, 
temperance ;  and,  in  order  to  diminish  his 
temptation  to  intemperance,  we  have  provided 
a  place  of  resort  where  instruction  and  amuse- 
ment are  combined  together.  To  foster  in  his 


THR  CONDITION  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  103 

heart  a  sense  of  the  value  of  character,  we  have 
placed  before  him  honorary  rewards  for  merit ; 
and  have  suggested  a  way  hy  which  superiority 
of  character  may  lead  to  increased  employment. 
While  remaining  in  port,  we  have  provided 
him  with  a  rich  variety  of  Christian  instruction, 
and  of  the  means  of  salvation  ;  at  the  moment 
of  departure,  we  have  put  him  in  possession  of  a 
copy  of  God's  own  hook  ;  and,  for  a  companion 
on  the  deep,  we  have  given  him  a  man  of  God 
who  will  care  for  his  religious  welfare.  And, 
in  order  that  his  children  may  prove  a  comfort 
to  himself,  and  a  blessing  to  society,  we  have 
proposed  to  take  them  in  infancy,  and  train 
them  up  in  the  pleasant  ways  of  wisdom  and  of 
the  fear  of  the  Lord.  Thus  beginning  with  his 
physical  condition,  we  have  ascended  upwards 
through  his  moral,  social,  intellectual,  and  spir- 
itual necessities,  and  have  aimed  to  provide  for 
them  all.  Following  him  through  the  entire 
round  of  his  temptations  and  his  wants,  we  have 
attended  his  course  in  sickness  and  health,  at 
home  and  abroad,  temporal  and  spiritual,  and 
have  endeavored  to  provide  for  the  whole  cir- 
cle;  leaving  him  in  the  possession  of  his  sav- 
ings for  the  season  of  infirmity  and  age,  and 
with  the  prospect  of  his  children  improving  on 
their  father. 

But  the  plan  we  have  sketched,  besides  be- 
ing comprehensive,  seems  also  simple  and  com- 
pact. All  those  parts  of  it  which  relate  to  the 
temporal  and  moral  improvement  of  the  sailor, 
arise  so  naturally  out  of  each  other,  that  they 


I  04  THE  MEANS  OP  IMPROVING 

may  be  advantageously  united,  and  conducted 
together.  And  those  which  relate  to  his  reli- 
gious welfare  are  but  ramifications  of  the  same 
principle  differently  applied. 

The  plan  proposed,  too,  has  for  its  object, 
not  simply  the  relief  and  assistance  of  the  sai- 
lor :  it  aims  to  aid  him  in  a  way  which  shall 
enable  him  to  aid  himself,  and  lead  to  his 
personal  improvement.  By  forming  him  to 
habits  of  economy  and  self  cultivation,  it  aims 
to  develop  his  own  powers,  and  to  raise  him  in 
the  scale  of  social  worth;  and  by  leading  him 
to  the  means  of  grace,  it  aspires  to  complete  his 
happiness,  and  to  render  him  a  religious  bless- 
ing to  others. 

Nor  may  it  be  irrelevant  to  advert  to  the 
comparative  inexpensiveness  of  the  plan.  The 
expenditure  of  the  religious  department,  would 
depend,  of  course,  on  the  extent  of  its  opera- 
tions ;  but  were  the  other  parts  of  the  plan  to 
be  fairly  and  fully  carried  into  effect,  there  can 
be  but  little  question,  that,  in  a  short  time,  they 
would  be  found  capable  of  supporting  them- 
selves. 

And  then  as  to  the  question,  whether  or  not 
sailors  would  avail  themselves  of  those  means 
of  improvement,  abundant  evidence  might  be 
adduced  to  establish  the  affirmative.  In  the 
full  proportion  in  which  means  have  been  em- 
ployed for  their  welfare,  they  have  succeeded. 
Our  endeavors  in  this  respect  have  been  signal- 
ly successful.  The  reports  of  our  Temperance 
Societies  testify  that  the  use  of  spirituous  liquors 


THE  CONDITION  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  105 

in  the  navy  is  on  the  wane,  and  may  be  entire- 
ly subdued,  while  it  is  generally  discontinued 
in  the  merchant  service.  In  a  letter  addressed 
"  To  the  Friends  of  Seamen  in  England,"  and 
dated  Canton,  Jan.,  1836,  an  American  mis- 
sionary writes.  "  Intemperance,  I  trust,  is  be- 
ginning to  give  ground.  Within  the  last  two 
years  more  than  100  vessels  have  been  here  in 
which  no  spirits  are  given  to  the  crews,  and  it 
is  now  a  long  time  since  I  have  seen  a  single 
American  vessel  which  allows  any  ardent  spirits 
to  officers  or  people."  The  reports  of  the  sav- 
ings' banks  at  some  of  our  maritime  towns,  ex- 
hibit symptoms  of  economy  also  in  the  seafar- 
ing class.  Thus  the  number  of  depositors  in 
the  Seamen's  Savings'  Bank  at  New  York  in 
1833  was  569,  and  the  amount  deposited  was 
$74,286,74.  The  whole  number  of  depositors 
in  that  at  Boston  is  1720.  of  whom  566  are 
seamen.  The  number  of  depositors  from  August 
1st  1836,  to  August  1st  1837,  is  431,  of  whom 
117  are  seamen. 

The  maritime  character  was  once  as  distin- 
guished for  its  religious  manifestations,  as  that 
of  any  other  class  ;  and,  as  we  have  already 
seen,  it  contains  many  a  hopeful  feature  still. 
In  regard  to  Mariners'  Churches,  the  regularity 
of  attendance,  and  peculiar  strictness  of  atten- 
tion, give  unvarying  occasion  for  both  ministers 
and  patrons  of  Seamen's  Friend  Societies,  "  to 
thank  God  and  take  courage."  Their  attend- 
ance is  numerous and  their  attention  and 

decorum   have   ever  been  most   striking,   and 
9* 


106  THE  MEANS  OF  IMPROVING 

often  deeply  affecting.  There  is,  indeed,  an 
intenseness  of  attention — an  openness  of  ear 
and  heart — a  tenderness  and  simplicity  of  feel- 
ing, so  remarkable,  as  to  form  a  uniform  cha- 
racteristic of  these  interesting  congregations. 
And — what  is  better  still — numbers  of  the  class 
are  at  this  moment  adorning  the  doctrine  of 
God  their  Saviour  in  all  things.  God  is  antici- 
pating his  church  in  the  improvement  of  sea- 
men. As  he  commenced  a  divine  renovation 
among  them  during  the  war,  when  his  people 
on  land  were  slumbering  on  the  subject,  so  does 
he  still  continue  to  go  before  his  church,  sham- 
ing their  indolence  and  their  fears,  exceeding 
their  hopes,  and  encouraging  them  to  attempt, 
and  to  expect  great  things. 

But  would  piety  improve  our  seamen,  as  such  1 
"  I  have  had  the  honor,"  writes  Captain  Sir  W. 
E.  Parry,  "  and,  I  may  truly  say,  the  happiness, 
of  commanding  British  seamen,  under  circum- 
stances requiring  the  utmost  activity,  implicit 
and  immediate  obedience,  and  the  most  rigid 
attention  to  discipline  and  good  order :  and  I 
am  sure  that  the  maintenance  of  all  these  was, 
in  a  great  measure,  owing  to  the  blessing  of 
God  upon  our  humble  endeavors  to  improve  the 
moral  and  religious  character  of  our  men.  The 
friends  of  religion  will  feel  a  pleasure  in  having 
the  fact  announced,  that  the  very  best  seamen 
on  board  the  Hecla — such  I  mean  as  were  al- 
ways called  upon  in  any  cases  of  extraordinary 
urgency — were,  without  exception,  those  who 
had  thought  most  seriously  on  religious  sub- 


THE  CONDITION  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  107 

jects ;  and  that  if  a  still  more  scrupulous  selec- 
tion were  to  be  made  out  of  that  number,  the 
choice  would  fall,  without  hesitation,  on  two  or 
three  individuals,  possessing  dispositions  and 
sentiments  eminently  Christian." 

At  the  anniversary  of"  the  Naval  and  Mili- 
tary Bible  Society,"  1818,  when  the  Duke  of 
York  presided,  Admiral  Sir  James  Saumarez 
stated,  "  that  he  had  uniformly  found,  that  the 
best  and  bravest  sailors  were  those  who  habitu- 
ally read  their  Bibles.  In  allusion  to  a  victory 
gained  under  his  command,  he  added,  that,  he 
could  only  say,  that  it  was  solely  through  the 
Bible,  and  from  a  firm  confidence  in  the  grace 
of  God,  which  that  sacred  volume  inspired,  that 
he  had  been  animated  to  combat  the  dangers 

before  him  and  be  successful Every  ship 

did  its  duty  that  day  ;  but  it  was  in  the  name 
of  our  God  that  we  set  up  our  banners,  and  the 
Lord  has  heard  our  prayers.  To  fight  in  hum- 
ble dependence  on  the  divine  protection,  and 
with  a  simple  reliance  on  the  divine  mercy, 
through  the  Redeemer,  is,  and  always  must  be, 
the  highway  to  victory  and  honor." 

And  is  there  no  heroism  in  the  Bible  ?  "  The 
time  would  fail  me  to  tell  of  Gideon,  and  of 
Barak,  and  of  Sampson,  and  of  Jephiha  ;  of 
David  also,  and  Samuel,  and  of  the  prophets  : 
who  through  faith  subdued  kingdoms,  wrought 
righteousness,  obtained  promises,  stopped  the 
mouths  of  lions,  quenched  the  violence  of  fire, 
out  of  weakness  were  made  strong,  waxed  va- 
liant in  fight,  turned  to  Might  the  armies  of  the 


108  THE  MEANS  OF  IMPROVING 

aliens."  With  these  ancient  Jewish  heroes, 
piety  was  not  only  no  impediment  to  success,  it 
was  the  very  principle  and  secret  of  their  brav- 
ery and  triumph. 

Religion,  in  every  age,  has  been  able  to  boast 
heroes  more  distinguished  than  any  other  cause, 
whether  the  object  for  which  they  contended 
was  their  aitars,  their  liberty,  or  their  native 
land.  Have  the  religious  Vaudois,  ever  given 
their  oppressors  reason  to  laugh  at  their  piety, 
when  encountered  in  battle?  They  have  al- 
ways fought  as  from  heaven.  Did  the  Puritans 
— whatever  the  character  of  their  quarrel,  just 
or  unjust — ever  bring  disgrace  on  English  brav- 
ery ?  did  they  not  cause  it  to  be  universally  re- 
spected ?  Did  not  Sidney,  the  bravest  of  the 
brave,  make  religion  his  boast,  and  wear  it  as 
an  ornament?  Or  did  piety  impair  the  courage 
of  a  Gardiner,  or  a  Blackader,  a  Melville,  or  a 
Burn? 

What  can  be  the  meaning  of  the  question 
then — whether  piety  would  improve  the  charac- 
ter of  our  seamen,  as  such  ?  If  there  be  a  God, 
and  if  that  Supreme  Majesty  beholds  all  the 
dwellers  upon  earth,  am  I  likely  to  acquit  my- 
self with  less  fidelity  and  vigor  for  believing 
that  I  am  acting  in  his  presence?  If  there  be 
a  region  of  blessedness  to  which  the  spirits  of 
the  just  ascend  at  death,  am  I  likely  to  be  ener- 
vated by  the  belief  that  Providence  will  either 
cover  me  with  its  shield  in  the  day  of  battle,  or 
else  will  conduct  me  to  unmingled  happiness 
above?  Am  I  likely  to  conduct  myself  with 


THE  CONDITION  OF  OUK  SEAMEN.          109 

less  consistency  and  dignity  for  believing  that  I 
am  an  object  of  interest  to  an  Infinite  Being  ? 

Piety  alone  is  wanting  to  make  the  character 
of  the  seaman  complete.  Only  let  this  divine 
element  be  infused  into  it,  and  the  peace  which 
it  imparts  will  render  him  cheerful  and  happy, 
the  new  motives  to  obedience  which  it  supplies 
will  give  stability  and  principle  to  his  discipline, 
while  the  animating  and  heavenly  hopes  which 
it  inspires  will  raise  his  mere  animal  spirits  in- 
to a  lofty  moral  courage  equal  to  any  extremity 
in  which  he  can  be  placed. 

All  that  we  want  are  energy  and  activity 
equal  to  the  occasion.  And  shall  not  these  be 
found  ?  O  that  we  could  engage  if  only  a 
fraction  of  the  enterprise  and  enthusiasm  which 
any  one  of  the  great  pecuniary  speculations  of 
the  day  can  command — and  the  work  would  be 
done !  O,  that  we  could  have  that  energy 
"  sanctified  by  the  word  of  God  and  by  prayer," 
— and  the  success  of  the  work  would  be  cer- 
tain ! 

Let  me  appeal  to  that  large  and  influential 
portion  of  the  community  who  annually  visit 
our  coasts  for  the  purposes  of  recreation  and 
health.1  "  Who  amongst  you  can  stand  on  the 
margin  of  our  coast,  and  look  over  the  out- 
stretched world  of  waters,  rolling  at  his  feet, 
without  being  pained  at  heart  while  he  thinks 
of  what  sin  hath  done  in  the  world,  and  es- 
pecially on  what  it  hath  done  among  those  who 
have  gone  down  to  the  sea  in  ships  ?  Those 
waters  which,  on  many  accounts,  form  the 


110  THE  MEANS  OF  IMPROVING 

grandest  subject  for  contemplation,  are  at  once 
recognized  as  the  grave  of  myriads  of  seamen, 
who,  from  generation  to  generation,  passed 
through  all  the  toils,  and  sufferings,  and  dan- 
gers of  a  maritime  life,  living  quite  unmindful 
of  the  great  end  of  their  creation,  and  dying 
without  one  scriptural  evidence  of  ever  having 
exercised  repentance  towards  God,  or  faith  in 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Their  lives  were,  with 
a  very  few  exceptions,  a  scene  of  labor,  blas- 
phemy, ignorance,  and  debauchery  ;  and  most 
of  their  deaths  were  sudden,  and  their  end  with- 
out hope.  Infidelity,  and  affected  charity,  may 
frown  and  condemn  these  remarks  ;  but  alas  ! 
jieither  zeal  nor  affected  charity  can  disprove 

their  truth We    cannot   undo    what  has 

been  done,  but,  by  the  help  of  God,  we  may 
stem  the  torrent  of  evil."*  Ponder  the  condi- 
tion of  our  seamen.  Pity  them.  Render  your 
sea-side  visits  conducive  to  their  improvement. 
And  come  to  the  help  of  the  Lord,  to  the  help 
of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty. 

Pious  sailors  !  aspire  to  imitate  the  example 
of  those  distinguished  men  whose  names  honor 
your  calling,  and  who  were  called  by  Christ, 
while  following  their  maritime  occupation,  to  be- 
come his  disciples.  Like  Andrew,  evince  a  zeal 
to  bring  others  to  the  Saviour  whom  you  have 
found.  In  all  your  endeavors  to  benefit  your 
shipmates,  aim  to  unite  the  boldness  of  Peter, 
the  energy  of  James,  and  the  affectionate  earn- 

*  The  Ocean. 


THE  CONDITION  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  Ill 

estnass  of  John.  You  have  been  called  to  be 
followers  of  Christ  under  circumstances  which 
mark  you  out  for  great  usefulness,  and  which 
loudly  call  on  you  to  be  active,  exemplary,  and 
faithful  unto  death. 

Christian  merchants  !  will  not  you  come  for- 
ward to  support  this  enterprise  ?  Self-interest 
demands  that  you  should  ;  for  an  improvement 
in  the  character  of  seamen  would  be  an  increase 
of  security  for  your  property.  Gratitude  de- 
mands it ;  for  you  derive  your  wealth  from  their 
instrumentality.  Christian  consistency  demands 
it ;  for  if  they  minister  to  you  in  temporal  things, 
ought  not  you  to  take  a  deep  interest  in  their 
religious  welfare  ? 

Political  economists,  and  legislators !  here  is 
a  noble  sphere  of  action  for  you.  The  moral 
improvement  of  our  seamen  would  be  a  great 
saving  to  the  whole  community,  and  would  sup- 
ply the  place  of  a  thousand  laws — for  it  would 
be  making  them  a  law  to  themselves.  Legisla- 
tive enactments  can  only  save  them  from  injus- 
tice, and  social  degradation  ;  but  here  is  a  me- 
thod of  raising  them  to  respectability  and  hap- 
piness, and  of  rendering  them  blessings  to 
society. 

Members  of  Bible,  Missionary,  Tract,  and 
School  Societies  !  here  is  a  new  and  powerful 
claim  upon  you.  Here  are  thousands  of  men 
who  might  be  made  your  agents  to  the  ends  of 
the  earth — will  you  not  aid  in  the  work  1  At 
present,  they  form  a  source  of  weakness  and 
discouragement  to  many  of  your  agents,  and  a 


1  12  THE  MEANS  OF  IMPROVING 

formidable  obstacle  to  the  accomplishment  of 
those  plans  which  are  nearest  your  hearts — will 
you  not  assist  to  improve  them  ?  You  are  not 
asked  to  apply  the  funds  of  your  respective  in- 
stitutions to  the  object  for  which  we  are  plead- 
ing— though  were  you  to  do  so,  to  a  certain 
extent,  you  would  only  be  exercising  a  wise 
economy,  and  a  far-sighted,  magnanimous  be- 
nevolence ;  that  which  we  urge  you  to  do  is  to 
join  with  us  in  our  solicitude  and  efforts  for  our 
seafaring  fellow-countrymen,  as  the  means  of 
certainly  promoting  your  dearest  objects  in  for- 
eign lands. 

Christians,  of  all  denominations  !  do  you  de- 
sire a  new  sphere  for  your  benevolent  exertions? 
Here  is  a  wide  field  comparatively  untouched. 
And,  O,  if  numbers  can  move  you  to  compas- 
sion, as  they 'did  your  Lord,  here  are  thousands, 
hundreds  of  thousands,  scattered  as  sheep  hav- 
ing no  shepherd.  If  a  warm  and  generous 
heart — if  humanity,  enterprise,  and  courage, 
are  qualities  to  be  valued — here  is  a  class  of 
men  who  possess  them  to  a  degree  that  even 
the  enemies  they  have  vanquished  have  often 
been  constrained  to  admire  :  and  shall  they 
who  are  the  pride  of  the  nation,  be  the  reproach 
of  the  church  ?  If  any  amount  of  services  can 
excite  our  gratitude — here  is  the  class  to  whose 
instrumentality,  in  war,  America  is  to  look  for 
defence,  and  to  whose  occupation,  in  peace, 
she  owes  it  that  "  her  merchants  are  princes, 
that  the  harvest  of  the  river  is  her  revenue,  and 
that  she  is  the  mart  of  nations."  If  a  sense  of 


THE  CONDITION  OP  OUR  SEAMEN.      113 

past  negligence  should  urge  us  to  present  ac- 
tivity— here  is  a  class  of  whom  it  may  be  said, 
"  much  as  the  wealth  arid  power  of  America 
depend  onJier  seamen,  the  souls  of  these  mari- 
ners, the  salvation  of  their  souls,  who  is  there, 
the  world  over  to  care  for  it,  to  look  after  them, 
to  speak  to  them  kindly,  to  show  them  the  way 
to  the  Saviour  of  the  world  ?  Age  after  age 
she  has  neglected  them,  and  they  have  neglect- 
ed themselves  ;  and  now  they  are  far  from  God, 
living  in  sin,  dying  in  misery,  and  passing  away 
beyond  the  kind  voice  of  mercy  forever."  If 
extreme  danger  can  interest  us  in  the  behalf  of 
those  who  encounter  it — here  are  men  whose 
time  is  spent  "  in  perils  of  waters,  in  perils  in 
the  sea,"  and  whose  whole  life  may  be  looked 
on  as  a  narrow  escape  from  death.  If  peculiar 
religious  privations  deserve  our  pity — here  are 
men  whose  exigencies  in  this  respect  are  obvi- 
ous and  extreme,  and  the  result  of  which  ap- 
pears in  the  proverbial  depravity  of  the  class. 
If  a  state  of  great  temptation,  and  exposure  to 
evil,  if  helplessness,  debasement,  and  misery 
should  engage  our  concern — here  is  a  class 
whose  condition,  in  these  respects  is  so  crying, 
that  men  of  the  world  are  touched  and  moved 
by  it,  and  are  heard  calling  upon  each  other  to 
hasten  to  their  deliverance,  and  to  assist  in  their 
protection.  If  the  sight  of  a  vast  agency,  which 
might  be  consecrated  to  the  noblest  ends,  produc- 
ing and  diffusing  evil  in  all  directions,  can  inspire 
us  with  concern — here  is  a  large  class  of  men, 
spreading  contamination  by  their  evil  example 
10 


114  THE  MEANS  OF  IMPROVING 

at  home,  and  proving  a  curse  among  the  heathen 
abroad,  though  there  is  much  in  their  charac- 
ter and  calling  which  marks  them  out  for  ex- 
tensive usefulness.  If  the  example  of  Christ 
drawing  us,  or  his  authority  commanding,  if  the 
successes  of  others  encouraging  us,  or  the  glow- 
ing language  of  prophecy  cheering  us — if  any 
thing  can  move  us  to  ameliorate  the  condition 
of  our  seafaring  fellow-countrymen,  then  by  all 
these  urgent  considerations,  let  us  make  the 
attempt,  and  make  it  at  once. 

And  is  there  nothing  in  this  object  to  Idndle 
and  inflame  a  sacred  ambition  ?  Ancient  my- 
thology tells  us  that  the  inventors  of  ships  took 
rank  among  the  gods,  and  that  even  the  ships 
were  translated  to  the  heavens,  where  they  still 
shine  among  the  constellations.  But  honors 
such  as  heathen  fable  never  pictured  await  the 
Christian  actors  in  this  glorious  enterprise.  For 
we  know  who  it  is  that  hath  said,  "  They  that 
be  wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  fir- 
mament ;  and  they  that  turn  many  to  righteous- 
ness as  the  stars  forever  and  ever."  Let  us 
then  make  the  attempt  proposed,  and  make  it 
at  once. 

And  shall  not  the  prospect  of  the  happy  scene 
which  shall  result  from  our  endeavors,  fill  us 
with  zeal  1  Only  let  us  commence  the  work  in 
a  spirit  suited  to  its  lofty  nature,  and  on  a  scale 
commensurate  with  its  magnitude,  others  will 
be  raised  up  to  sustain  and  carry  it  on,  and  on, 
till  every  sailor  shall  become  a  Christian  mis- 
sionary, and  every  sea-port  a  Tyre,  whose  raer- 


THE  CONDITION  OF  OUR  SEAMEN.  115 

chandize  shall  be  holiness  to  the  Lord,  and 
every  ship  a  floating  church  ;  and  the  ocean  it- 
self, resembling  the  "  sea  of  glass  like  unto 
crystal,"  which  circulates  around  the  throne 
above,  shall  become  a  holy  element,  reflecting 
the  smile  and  the  glory  of  God.  Come,  then, 
and  in  the  name  of  God,  let  us  commence  the 
work,  and  let  itf  commence  it  at  once. 


\  \ 

\           Gould,  Kendall,  fy  Lincoln's  Publications.  \ 

*  nnHE     ORIGIN    AND    HISTORY    OF    MISSIONS ;  * 

\    •*-    a  Record  of  the  Voyages,  Travels,  Labors,  and  Sue-  \ 

\  cesses  of  the  various  Missionaries,  who  have  be.cu  sent  forth  \ 

x  by  Protestant  Societies  and  Churches   to   evangelize  the  \ 

\  Heathen;  compiled  from  authentic  Documents ;  forming  a  ^ 

^  complete  MISSIONARY  REPOSITORY  ;  illustrate.!  by  numerous  * 

^  Engravings, from  original  Drawings  made  expressly  for  this  v 

\  Work.     BytheRev.  JOH.vO.  CHOULES,  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  v 

\  and  the  Rev.  THOMAS  SMITH,  late  Minister  of  Trinity  Chapel,  \ 

\  London.     Fourth  Edition,  continued  to  the  present  time.  \ 

X       The  original  cost  of  the  stereotype  plates,  engravings,  Sec.,  to  this  work,  N 

\  considerably  exceeded  $7039,  which  necessarily  so  enhanced  the  price  of  \ 

\   former  editions  ($13  per  copy),  that  many  were  precluded  from  purchasing  \ 

J|   it,  who  would  otherwise  have  gladly  done  so.  » 

»       The  present  proprietors,  having  purchased  tlie  work  at  a  considerable  de-  X 

\   ductiou  from  cost,  and   being  desirous  of  plating  it  within  tlie  reach  of  \ 

\  every  out  wishing  to  possess  this  valuable  repository  of  missionary  iutelli-  ^ 

^  gence,  have  determined  to  put  it  at  the  very  lute  price  of  $7  per  copy,  trusting  V 

\  that  by  this  means  it  will  receive  from  an  enlightened  Christian  community  \ 

\   the  tztaiiice  patronage  which  the  merits  and  importance  of  the  work  de-  \ 
«    mand. 

RECOMMENDATIONS.  X 

\       The  plan  and  object  of  the  ORIGIN  AND  HISTORY  OF  Mis-  \ 

\  SIOKS  having  been  submitted  to  us,  we  beg  leave  most  cordially  ^ 

^  to  recommend  it  to  the  attention  of  the  religious  public,  con-  \ 

\  sidering  it  highly  calculated  to  extend  the  interest  wliich  is  al-  \ 
\  ready  felt  on  behalf  of  the  great  missionary  enterprise. 


V  Rev.  DAXIEL  SHARP.  D.  D.,  Boston. 

\  Rev.  B.  B   WISNER.  D.  D.,  Boston.  \ 

^  Rev.  JOHN  CODMAN,  D.  D.,  Dorchester.  Mass.  \ 

>  Rev.   HOWARD  MALCOM,  Boston.  \ 
\  Rev.  WILLIAM  JE.NKS,  I).  D.,  Boston.  ^ 
\  Rev.  JAMES  D.  KNOWLES,  Professor  of  Pastoral  Duties,  JVeio-  \ 
^                   ton  Theological  Institution.  \ 

>  Rev.  BARON  STOW,  Boston.  \ 


\           Gould,  Kendall,  fy  Lincoln's  Publications.  \ 

*                                   .^^^                                    -            T^-i-t^rt,-.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           *     ( 

\                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ~  \ 

\  ~|V/|"AMMON;  (PRIZE  ESSAY;)  or,  Covetousness  the  Sin  %! 

\  1*JL  of  the  Christian  Church.     By  Rev.  JOHN  HARRIS,  \! 

\  Author  of  the  "  Great  Teacher."    Second  American,  from  $J 

£  the  Tenth  London  Edition.  ^ 

S       This  work  has  already  engaged  the  iittention  of  churches  and  individuals,  \J 

S   and  receives  the  highest  commendations.    '1  he  publishers  take  pleasure  in  V 

^   presenting  the  following  united  recommendation  from  clergymen  in  this  ^; 

\  city  :—  V 

>  Having  read  the  Prize  Essay  of  the  Rev.  John  Harris,  entitled  \> 
\  "  Mammon,  or  Covetousness  the  Siri  of  the  Christian  Church."  \! 
J  we  cordially  recommend  it  as  deserving  the  serious  perusal  of  \| 

>  the  professed  followers  of  Christ.  *| 
\       Its  general  circulation  will  be  a  powerful  means  of  increasing  V 
\  the  spirituality  of  the  churches,  and  of  advancing  every  good*  \! 
^  work  which   depends  in  any  measure  upon  pecuniary  contn-  ^{ 
\  butions.                  R    ANDERSON,              J.  H.  FAIRCHU.D, 

5                                   DAVID  GREKNE,          S.  S.  MALLF.RV,  l[j 

>  DANIEL  SHARP,            HUBBARD  WINSLOW,  ^{ 
WM.  M.  ROGERS,        Lucius  BOLLES,  \» 

\                               JOTHAM  HORTON,        ABEL  STEVENS,  \^ 

^                                   BARON  STOW,               WM.  JKNKS,  ^ 

>  WM.  HAGUE,                 A.  BOIES,  ^ 
v                                 GEORGE  B.  IDE,         D.  M.  LORD, 

\                                 GKO.  W.  BLAGDEN,     E.  THRESHER.  \{ 

\                                      [From  the  Christian  Watchman.]  Q 

>  We  wish  not  only  to  add  our  testimony  to  the  excellency  of 
\  this  book,  but  to  urge  it  upon  the  attention  of  our  readers.     We 
\  commend  it  to  the  attention  of  business  men,  and  especially 
^  young  men. 

[From  the  New  York  Observer.] 

\      We  have  read  this  work  with  great  interest,  and  recommend  \\ 

$  it  as  equally  rich  in  evangelical  principle,  philosophical  analysis,  \\ 
^  and  practical  application. 
^                                    [From  the  Philadelphia  Observer.] 
^       This  neat  little  volume,  on  the  important  subject  of  which  it 
^  treats,  we  have  read  with  much  satisfaction.     The  author  han- 
dies  it  in  a  masterly  manner.  *      *  Our  hope  is,  that  it  will  be 
extensively  read. 

[From  /.hiii's  Herald.] 

Among  all  the  books  which  have   fallen  into  our  hands  to  ^| 

notice,  we  have  never  felt  our  inability  to  do  justice  to  any  of  v 

them,  to  such  an  extent  as  to  the  one  now  before  us.     It  exhib-  v 

its  the  writer  as  a  man  of  superior  intellectual  power,  and  gifted  v 

with  talents  which,  if  rightly  applied  and  heeded,  may  yet  be  ^[ 

destined  to  move  the  moral  world.     His  eloquence  is  the  elo-  V 


^yxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx^ 

Gould,  Kendall,  fy  Lincoln's  Publications. 

\  quence  of  reason,  founded  in  the  records  of  eternal  truth.     His  \ 

^  sentiments  are  a  wonderful  concentration  of  truth  and  wisdom,  ^ 

*  carrying  with  them  such  convincing  power,  as  must  strip  ava-  \ 
\  rice  of  its  coat  of  mail,  and  turn  the  streams  of  extravagance  \ 
\  into  the  channel  of  universal  love.     His  style  is  so  entirely  free  \ 
^  of  cumbrous  words,  that  the  whole  book  resembles  a  series  of  ^ 

>  epigrammatical  sentences,  each  one  conveying,  in  a  few  lines,  \ 
\  that  for  which,  in  many  writers,  we  have  to  travel  over  pages.  \ 

[From  the  Southern  Religious  Telegraph.] 

\       Its  appearance  is   highly  seasonable.     Its   title    may  appear  \ 

\  repulsive  to  some  members  of  the  church.     Mammon !     Who  is  ^ 

^   willing  to  be  recognized  as  a  disciple  of  Mammon  ?    *       '    The  ^ 

\  power  and  spirit  in  which  it  is  written,  the  noble  thoughts  of  \ 

\  the  writer,  nobly  expressed,  will  commend  it  to  their  attention,  \ 

^  and  they  will  read  and  admire  it,  even  if  they  decide  that  they  ^ 

N  will  not  repent.  » 

5                              [From  the  Biblir-al  Recorder,  Newburn,  N.  C.]  ^ 

^       The  extent  and  ruinous  consequences  of  the  sin  of  which  this  \ 

\  work  treats,  even  among  professors  of  religion,  we  have  long  » 

\  been   fully  apprized  of.     The  publication  of  the  above-named  \ 

\  work  in  this  country,  we   therefore   consider   seasonable    and  v 

I  happy.  $ 

\                                   [From  the  Richmond  Religious  Herald.]  \ 

The  work  attacks  with  much  force  this  insidious  vice.     Mr.  \ 

Harris  is  a  fearless  and  energetic  writer.     His  style  is   close,  \ 

nervous  and  lucid,  and   his  hab:ts  of  thinking  highly  original.  ^ 

The  topics  he  selects  are  judiciously  selected,  and  impressive-  > 

ly  enforced.     The   present  treatise  has  fully  answered  our  ex-  \ 

pectations ;  and  we  earnestly  trust  it  will  be  extensively  read,  \ 

and  be  productive  of  much  good.  > 

«                [Extract  from  an  extended  Notice  in  the  Christian  Review.]  > 

*  We  hail  this  volume  with  heartfelt  pleasure.     Its  appearance  > 
\  is   most   seasonable.     It  will   commend    itself  to  all  who  will  \ 
\  peruse  its  pages  ;  and  we  trust  that  its  solemn  and  powerful  ap-  \ 
^  peals  to  conscience  and  duty  may  be  productive  of  the  happiest  J 

>  results.     We  do  earnestly  advise  the  pastors  of  churches  to  take  > 
\  pains   to  promote  the  circulation  and  perusal 'of  this  masterly  \ 
^  production  among  their  congregations.  \ 

^                          [A  correspondent  of  the  Bo  ton  Recorder  says,]  N 

N       O  that  Christian    professors   generally  could   be  induced  to  N 

\  read,  with  a  teachable  spirit,  this  pungent,  soul-stirring  appeal,  \ 

\  and  then  examine  how  clearly  and  frequently  the  Scriptures  \ 

^  place  the  covetous  with  "  idolaters,"  who  "  have  no  inheritance  \ 

^  in  the  kingdom  of  Christ  and  of  God."  \ 


Gould,  Kendall,  fy  Lincoln's  Publications.  \ 

Xeto   anfc   £mj>robefc    Eirftfon. 

MEMOIR    OF    GEORGE   DANA    BOARDMAN,  $ 

'  \ 

N  LATE  MISSIONARY  TO  BURMAH, 

\  \! 

y  CONTAINING    MUCH    INTELLIGENCE    RELATIVE    TO  THF  \ 

\  BURMAN     MISSION.  V 

*  v! 

$          BY  REV.  ALONZO   KING,  OF  NORTHBORO',  MASS.          £J 

^  A  correct  likeness  of  Mr.  Boardman,  engraved  on  steel,  from  a  painting  in  ^J 
possession  of  the  family,  and  a  beautiful  vignette  representing  the  bap-  \[ 
tisiii.it  scene  just  before  his  death,  have  been  added.  \J 

i! 

[From  Rev.  J.  O.  Choules,  of  New  Bedford.]  \t 

I  have  read  the  Memoir  of  Boardman  with  great  satisfaction.  V 

*  *  *     The  great  charm  in  the  character  of  Mr.  Boardman  was  v 

his  fervent  piety  ;  and  his  biographer  has  succeeded  admirably  ^ 

\  in  holding  him  up  to  the  Christian  world  as  the  pious  student,  *J 

y  the  faithful  minister,  and  the  self-denying,  laborious  missionary.  V 

^  To  the  student,  to  the  Christian  minister,  it  will  be  a  valuable  \t 

\  book,  and  no  Christian  can  peruse  it  without  advantage.     I  hope  ^J 

\  our  ministering  brethren  will  aid  in  the  circulation  of  the  Me-  V 

y  moir.     Every  church  will  be  benefited  by  its  diffusion  among  v 

J  its  members.  Yours,  &c.,  JOHN  O.  CHOULES.  \J 

\  >J 

N  [From  the  Christian  Watchman.] 

N  Tliis  Memoir  belongs  to  that  small  class  of  books,  which  may  *\ 

\  be  read  with  interest  and  profit  by  every  one.     It  comprises  so  ^ 

^  much  of  interesting  history  ;  so  much  of  simple  and  pathetic  V 

^  narrative,  so  true  to  nature ;  and  so  much  of  correct  moral  and  y 

\  religious  sentiment,  that  it  cannot  fail  to  interest  persons  of  all 

\  ages  and  of  every  variety  of  taste. 

^  [From  Rev  Baron  Plow.]  \v 

^  No  one  can  read  the  Memoir  of  Boardman,  without  feeling  N 

\  that  the  religion  of  Christ  is  suited  to  purify  the  affections,  exalt  - 

\  the  purposes,  and  give  energy  to  the  character.     Mr.  Boardman 

^  was  a  man  of  rare  excellence,  and  his  biographer,  by  a  just  ex-  ^ 

^  hibition  of  that  excellence,  has  rendered  an  important  service,  v 

\  not  only  to  the  cause  of  Christian  missions,  but  to  the  interests  y 

\.  of  personal  godliness.  } 

^  Yours,  with  esteem,                    EARON  STOW.  ^; 

<yxxxxxxxxxxxxx^xxxx^xxxxxxx - ^xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<- 


t  —  ,  --------  „„„_! 

Gould,  Kendall,  Sf  Lincoln's  Publications. 

I  * 

\         MEMOIR   OF   MRS.  ANN   H.  JUDSON,  $ 

LATE  MISSIONARY  TO  BURMAH.  * 

* 

^  New   and   Enlarged   Edition. 

*  * 

^  Including  a  History  of  the  American  Baptist  Mission  in  the  Bur-  ^ 

\                               mati  Empire  to  the  present  Time.  \ 

\  \ 

\                  BYJAMESD.   KNOWLES,  $ 

\          Professor  of  Pastoral  Duties  in  the  Newton  Theological  Institution.  \ 
EMBELLISHED    WITH    ENGRAVINGS. 


Twenty-five  thousand  copies  of  this  work  have  been  sold  in  the  United 


\  rwenty-nve  tnousand  copies  ot  tnis  worK  nave  been  sold  in  tne  united  ^ 

\  States,  besides  several  editions  in  England.    It  has  also  been  printed  in   \ 

\  French,  and   is   about  to  be  published  in  the  German  language ;   which  ^ 

\  shows  that  it  is  a  work  of  no  ordinary  interest.                                                   £ 


>  [Extract  from  Mrs.  Hale's  Ladies'  Magazine.] 

»  •  We   are   glad   to   announce  this  work  to  our  readers.     The  \ 

\  character  of  Mrs.  Judson  is  an  honor  to  American  ladies.     The  \ 

\  ardent  faith  that  incited  her  to  engage  in  an  enterprise  so  full  ^ 

^  of  perils;  the  fortitude  she  exhibited  under  trials  which  it  seems  V 

*  almost  incredible  a  delicate  woman  could  hare  surmounted  ;  her  \ 

\  griefs,  and  the  hopes  that  supported  her.  should  be  read  in  her  \ 

\  own  expressive  language.     Her  talents  were  unquestionably  of  ^ 

^  a  high  order;  but  the  predominant  quality  of  her  mind  was  its  ^ 

\  energy.     The  work  contains,  besides  the  life  of  Mrs.  Judson,  a  \ 

\  History  of  the  Burman  Mission,  with  a  sketch  of  the  Geography,  ^ 

\  &c.,  of  that  country,  and  a  Map  accompanying,  and  a  beautifully  ^ 

^  engraved  portrait  of  Mrs.  Judson.                                                      \ 

\  ^ 

\  [From  the  London  New  Baptist  Miscellany.]                           \ 

\  This  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  pieces  of  female  biography  ^ 

^  which  has  ever  come  under  our  notice.     No  quotation,  which  N 

^  our  limits  allow,  would  do  justice  to  the  facts,  and  we  must  \ 

>  therefore  refer  our  readers -to  the  volume  itself.    It  ought  to  be  ^ 
%  immediately  added  to  every  family  library.                                      ^ 
I 

^x-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx^x^xxxx^xxxxxxx^xxxxxxx^xxxxxxxx-V 


•^>XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX<»XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX<^ 

\  \ 

\  Gould,  Kendall,  4*  Lincoln's  Publications.  \ 


\  lyTEMOIR  OF  REV.  WILLIAM  CAREY,  D.  D.,  forty  $ 
^  •*-*-••  Years  Missionary  in  India.  By  Rev.  EUSTACE  CAREY.  * 
\  With  an  Introductory  Essay,  by  FRANCIS  WAYLAND,  D.  D.,  \ 
\  President  of  Brown  University.  With  a  correct  Likeness.  * 

^  [From  the  Monthly  Paper  of  the  Baptist  General  Tract  Society.]  ^ 

^  This  is  a  work  of  surpassing  interest,  which  no  Christian  can  ^ 
N  read  without  profit.  The  mechanical  execution  is  excellent,  ^ 
\  and  reflects  much  credit  on  the  enterprising  publishers.  They  \ 
\  have  given  to  the  American  public  an  imperishable  work,  that  \ 
^  will  be  perused  with  intense  interest  by  generations  yet  unborn.  ^ 

>  We  have  seldom,  if  ever,  read  a  book    which  has  impressed  ^ 
\  us  with  such  a  conviction  of  the  importance  of  its  being  most  \ 
^  extensively  circulated.     With  the  Memoir   of  our  own   Mrs.  \ 
^  Judson,  it  ought   to  have  a  place  in  every  family  and  in  every  ^ 
\  library.  \ 

[From  the  Boston  Recorder.] 

\       A  Memoir  of  Dr.  Carey  must  of  necessity  give  an  account  of  \ 

\  the  rise  of  Baptist  Missions  in  the  East  Indies,  their  embarrass-  \ 

^  ments,  their  struggles,  and  their  success.     For  this  reason,  as  ^ 

^  well  as  on  account  of  the  character  of  Dr.  Carey,  it  must  be  a  ^ 
\  work  of  intense  interest. 

J  [From  Zion's  Herald.]  \ 

\  The  compiler  observes  in  his  Preface,  that  his  endeavor  has  \ 
^  been  to  exhibit  the  Christian  and  the  missionary,  rather  than  the  ^ 
N  scholar.  We  think  he  has  succeeded.  It  is  in  the  character  of  V 
\  a  Christian  missionary  that  Dr.  Carey  preeminently  shines.  It  v 
\  was  through  his  labors,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  that  a  char-  \ 
^  acter  and  stability  were  given  to  missionary  operations  in  India,  ^ 
\  which  have  justly  made  them  the  admiration  of  the  Christian  N 
\  world.  We  compliment  the  publishers  for  the  beautiful  style  in  ^ 
^  which  they  have  issued  this  book. 

[From  the  Richmond  Religious  Herald.] 
^       The  name  of  Carey  awakens  feelings  of  the  most  interesting 

>  character  in  the  mind  of  every  reflecting  Christian,  whose  heart 
\  is  alive  to  the  prosperity  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  on  earth,  and 
\  who  longs  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  a  perishing  world.     The  life 

^  of  the  founder  of  modern  missions,  the  pioneer  in  those  efforts  ^ 
^  which,  we  believe,  are  destined  to  fill  the  whole  earth  with  the  ^ 
\  glory  of  God,  and  to  cause  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  to  become  \ 
\  the  kingdoms  of  the  Lord,  cannot  be  perused  with  ordinary  \ 
^  emotions,  nor  without  feelings  of  devout  gratitude,  that  God  ^ 
*  was  pleased,  in  his  own  time,  to  raise  up  an  instrument  so  well  \ 
\  qualified  for  the  mighty  undertaking.  \ 


1 

XX^ 


<yxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx^ 

Gould.  Kendall.  <&•  Lincoln's  Publications.  \ 

\  \ 


\  \ 

THE    FOUR    GOSPELS; 

WITH   NOTES, 

^  CHIEFLTEXPLANATORY;  ^ 

\  \ 

\  INTENDED    PRINCIPALLY    FOB  \ 

\ 

\ 

\  AND    A3  \ 

AN   AID  TO   FAMILY  INSTRUCTION. 
BY  HENRY  J.  RIPLEY, 

\       Professor  of  Biblical  Literature  and  Interpretation  in  New-Ion  Thnological       \ 
V  Institution. 

\  I 

^                                               [Extracts  from  the  Preface.]  ^ 

^       In  the  following  Notes.  1  have  endeavored  to  avoid  prolixity,  ^ 

v  and  yet  not  to  pass  over,  without  explanation,  passages  that  N 

\  really  need  explanation.  *  *  *  A  person  who  may  use  this  book,  \ 

\  either  for  personal  information,  or  for  enabling  him  to  instruct  \ 

^  others,   must  submit  to  some  labor.     Frequently  passages  of  ^ 

\  Scripture  are  merely  referred  to.  and  the  benefit  to  be   drawn  ^ 

\  from  those  passages  will  require  that  they  be  examined.     Par-  \ 

^  ticularly  will  this  be  found  necessary  in  the  case  of  a  Sabbath  \ 

^  School  teacher,  or  the  leader  of  a  Bible  Class.    If  such  a  person  ^ 

\  depends  on  this  book  as  a  help,  he  will  not  find  his  work  all  done  \ 

\  for  him  here  ;  but  he  will  find,  I  trust,  materials  afforded   him,  v 

^  by  which  he  may  dv  kis  loork  himself.  \ 

*       Such  is  the  nature  of  the  work  I  proposed  to  myself  in  this  book,  ^ 

\  that  I  have  not  felt  at  liberty,  even  if  I   had  been  disposed  or  \ 

^  able,  to  indulge  in  flights  of  fancy,  or  to  seek  any  rhetorical  \ 

^  excellence,  beyond  a  perspicuous  and  simple  statement  of  facts  ^ 

N  or  opinions.     Nor  have  I  made  many  moral  reflections.     Some-  V 

\  times  I  have  suggested  topics  of  pious  meditation  and  of  useful  \ 

\  practical  remark  ;  at  other  times,  1  have  not  done  so.     I  have  \ 

^  been  guided,  in  this  matter,  by  the  nature  of  different  passages,  ^ 

^  and  by  the  impressions  on  my  own  mind.  V 

\       That  my  views  of  some  passages  should  differ  from  those  of  \ 

\  other  writers,  is  to  be  expected  ;  but  that  I  have  endeavored  to  \ 

^  convey  to  my  readers  the  mind  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  to  shed  ^ 

^  light  over  a  part  of  the  sacred  volume,  is  my  delightful  con-  \ 

\  sciousness.     The  usefulness  of  the  effort  must  be  left  to  Him,  \ 

\  from  whom  come  all  good  desires  and  designs,  whose  blessing  is  ^ 

^  necessary  for  every  undertaking,  and  "  whose  approbation  can  ^ 
%  prosper  even  mine." 


^VXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX  X  XXXXXXXXXXXXX<^ 

\  Gould,  Kendall,  4*  Lincoln's  Publications. 


\  taining  Sketches  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Missouri,  Michigan,  &.c.   &c.    \ 

\  By  J.  M.  PECK,  A.  M.,  of  Rock  Spring,  Illinois.     Second  F.ditwn.                       \ 

\  CAMPBELL  AND  FENELON  OX  ELOdUENCE,  comprising  Camp-  > 

\  bell's  Lectures  on  Systematic  Theology  and  Pulpit  Eloquence,  and  Fenelon's  \ 

^  Dialogues  on  Eloquence.     Edited  by  Prof.  RIPLEY,  of  Newton  Theological   V 

\  AN   EXAMINATION  OF  STUART'S  ESSAY    ON  BAPTISM.    By   \ 

S  HENRY  J.  RIPLEY,  Prof.  Biblical  Literature  at  Newton  Theol.  Institution.   J 

*  JUDSON'S   SERMON  ON   BAPTISM. 

\  FULLER'S  DIALOGUES  ON   COMMUNION.    Second  Edition. 

>  THE  GREAT  TEACHER.    Characteristics  of  ourLord's  Ministry.    By   > 
\  Rev.  JOHN  HARRIS.     WTith  an  Introductory  Essay,  by  HEMAN  HUMPHREY,   \ 
\  D.  D.,  President  of  Amherst  College.                                                                   \ 
^  MORRIS'S  MEMOIRS  OF  FULLER.— The  Life  and  Character  of  Rev.   > 
\  ANDREW  FULLER,  Edited  by  Rurus  BABCOCK,  JR.,  D.  D. 

\  MEMOIR  OF  ROGER  WILLIAMS,  the  Founder  of  the  State  of  Rhode   N 

»  Island.     By  JAMES  D.  KNOWLES,  A.  M.                                                                  J 

\  MEMOIR  OF  REV.   WILLIAM  STAUGIITON,  D.  D.    By  Rev.  W.   \ 

S  S.  LYND,  A.  M.  With  a  Likeness.                                                                            J 

J  LIFE  OF  PHILIP  MELANCTHON,  comprising  an    Account  of  the   $ 

\  most  important  Transactions  of  the  Reformation      By  F.  A.  Cox,  D.  11.,   \ 

^  LL.  D.,  of  London.    From  the  Second  London  Edition,  with  important  S 

\  Alterations  by  the  Author,  for  this  Edition.                                • 

\  MEMOIR   OF   REV.  S.  PEARCE.     By  ANDREW  FULLER.                           \ 

$  MEMOIRS  OF  HOWARD  THE  PHILANTHROPIST;  compiled  from   ^ 

\  his  Diary,  his  confidential  Letters,  and  other  authentic  Documents.     With   \ 

J  a  Likeness  and  Vignette.                                                                                       N 

^  REMAINS   OF   REV.  RICHARD   CECIL,  M.  A.  ;  to  which  is  prefixed   $ 

\  a  View  of  his  Character.  By  JOSIAH  PRATT,  B.  1).,  F.  A.  S.,  with  a  beautiful   \ 

j  Frontispiece.                                                                                                           J 

<  TRAVELS  OF   TRUE  GODLINESS.     By  the  Rev.  BENJAMIN  KEACH,   J 

V  London  ;  and  a  Memoir  of  his  Life,  by  HOWARD  MALCOM.     With  four  beau-   V 

»  tiful  Engravings. 

N  BEAUTIES  OF  COLLYER.    Selections  from  Theological  Lectures  by   \ 

J  Rev.  W.  B.  COLLYER,  D.  1).,  F.  S.  A.     With  a  fitie  Engraving.                         \ 

X  IMITATION  OF  CHRIST.     By  THOMAS  A    KL-MI-IS.    A  new  and  im-   { 

\  proved  Ed.tion,  edited  by  HOWARD   MALCOM,  A.  M.    .With  two  fine  En-   \ 

J  gravings. 

\  CHURCH   MEMBER'S   GUIDE.     By  J.  A.  JAMES,  A.  M.,  of  Binning-   ^ 

\  ham,  England.     Edited  by  J.  O.  CHOULES,  A~.  M.                                                 \ 

>  FEMALE   SCRIPTURE  BIOGRAPHY,  including  an  Essay  on  what   N 
\  Christianity  has  done  for  Women.    By  F.  A.Cox,  D.  U.,  LL.  D.,  of  London.   \ 
N  Two  Volumes,  with  four  Engravings.                                                                  \ 
^  SAINTS'   EVERLASTING   REST.     By  RICHARD  BAXTER.     Abridged   > 
\  by  B.  FAWCETT,  A.  M.     With  a  Likeness  and  Vignette.                                  \ 
^  HELP  TO   ZION'S  TRAVELLERS.    By  Rev.  ROBERT  HALL.     With  a   \ 
\  Preface,  by  Dr.  RYLAND.     Indited  by  Rev.  J.  A.  WARNE.     With  a  beautiful    ^ 
\  Vignette.                                                                                                                \ 

>  SCRIPTURE  NATURAL  HISTORY, containing  a  descriptive  Account   ^ 
\  of  Quadrupeds,  Birds,  Fishes,  Insects,  Reptiles,  Serpents,  Plants,  Trees,  .Mm-   ^ 
'  erals,  Gems,  and  Precious  Stones,  mentioned  in  the  Bible.     By  WILLIAM    V 
^  CARPENTER,  London.    With  Improvements  by   Rev.  GORHAM   D.  ABBOTT.   ^ 
\  Illustrated  by  numerous  Engravings,  also  Sketches  of  Palestine. 

vVlNCHELL'S   WATTS,  enlarged,  being  an  Arrangement  of  all  the   \ 

\  Psalms  and  Hymns  of  Dr.  Watts.    \Vith  a  Supplement. 

\  NATIONAL  CHURCH   HARMONY,  containing  Tunes  calculated  for  \ 

J  Public  Worship,  Anthems  and  Select  Pieces  for  Fasts,  Thanksgivings,   ^ 

\  Christinas,  Missionary  Meetings,  &c.    By  N.  D.  GOULD.    New  Stereotype  \ 

>  Edition,  enlarged. 


u 


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